Good evening, West Orange, and welcome to the township council meeting for March 24th, 2026. I am your Zoom moderator, Joe Fagan. We are coming to you live streaming over the Zoom platform from Council Chambers, 66 Main
Street. You're welcome to join us here in person, but as always, there is no public comment on Zoom. At this time, I'd like to turn the meeting over to our council president. >> Okay. Welcome everyone who are here and in the Zoom audience. Go ahead.
>> Thank you. 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, Council President Scorpa, >> present. >> Mayor McCartney. >> Thank you. >> All right.
>> Uh, Mayor McCartney is going to begin with a proclamation recognizing the women of town hall. >> Council included. So, good evening everyone. Welcome. Welcome to our March 24th. We have a really nice conference agenda. first
starting March uh the meeting off with uh recognizing March as women's history month and I have invited all of our town employees and of course council to be recognized this evening. So, I really like this to become a tradition for us each year. And um I do want to say that
last week or so when I presented the state of the town address, I thank you again. Every one of you, every department was recognized for the outstanding work that has happened over the past year. So, thank you. So, let me read the proclamation.
>> Okay. says, "Whereas the National Women's History Alliance established every March as Women's History Month to ensure that diverse women's voices and contributions are recognized and celebrated. Women of every race, class, and ethnic background
have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. And women have been at the forefront of change and progress, breaking barriers, fighting for equality and contributing to the advancement of society in every
aspect, whether through politics, education business science healthcare, activism, the arts at home or in our community. And as we're going to see on our conference agenda also, we are recognizing uh educators and
students uh this evening as well. Women have been leaders not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in abolitions, emancipation, civil rights, and industrial labor movements in order to create a more fair and just society for
all. Women's History Month provides an opportunity to appreciate the achievements of women at both the national and local levels. The women of West Orange have made invaluable contributions to our past and continue to serve as role models and leaders in
various fields. They serve as teachers, first responders, business owners, community organizers, health health care professionals, and public servants. Whereas, this is a fitting occasion to recognize the women working for our township and acknowledge their
dedication and commitment. They consistently demonstrate hard work and resilience in their daily roles, contributing to the efficient operation of our community and the well-being of our residents. So now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Susan McCartney, Mayor of the Township of West Orange,
County of Essex, State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim the month of March as women's history month in the township of West Orange. I urge all citizens to reflect on the enduring enduring legacy of women who have shaped our community,
county, inspired you and the world. Thank you all and I ask everyone to came up here, right? Hello. >> You want to come up? Will everybody come around? >> Mayor, you want everybody come around up here? >> Yeah. This way you'll fit everybody
better. >> Stand next to Come on. >> Come on. Down. Maybe. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Maldo, should I >> You're >> Should I be in this picture? >> Everybody look this way. You're good,
Tina. I can see I can see you. I can see everything. >> I have a beard. This is great photographs. >> Okay, everybody look at me. Okay, we're going to take several shots and I'm going to post the best one. I want to
get low. There we go. >> Okay. >> Hey, that was good practice. Now, >> thank you all. Okay. >> Okay. Next. >> We'll wait till everybody exits.
They can learn a lot. Okay. Next, it's my honor to uh to award this commendation to our Amistat award winners, Joy Bernett and her students,
Zoe Gil, McKenzie Norcott, and Alana Font. I have to say as an educator myself, everyone knows I'm a speech pathologist in our school district. I've been at every school and I have had the pleasure
at Redwood of working with Miss Bernett. She is an incredible teacher and inspiring in every way, not just academically, but the love and the joy and the values that she instills in her
students is something that is very, very special. So, I'm thrilled to be able to honor her with this accommodation. Uh, unfortunately, sometimes our educators, our teachers are one of our most undervalued
resources. So um I hope we will all take that into consideration as we think about their work. Whereas teachers play a vital role in shaping the intellectual, social and
civic development of young people serving not only as instructors but as mentors, advocates and champions for every child's potential. And whereas Joy Bernett, a fourth grade teacher at
Redwoods Elementary School, exemplifies this calling through her unwavering commitment to academic excellence, culturally responsive teaching, and the empowerment of her students. And whereas
under Miss Fernett's guidance, 17 fourth grade students participated in the inaugural 2026 New Jersey Amnest Commission African-American History Contest, a statewide initiative designed
to strengthen research, writing, public speaking, and critical thinking skills while deepening students knowledge of New Jersey's AfricanAmerican heritage. it. And whereas Miss Bernett was named the 2025
New Jersey Amastad Exemplary K through8 teacher of the year, recognizing her leadership in implementing the Amastad curriculum and her dedication to ensuring that students gain a meaningful
understanding of African-American history and its central place in the American story. Whereas Miss Bernett's encouragement, instruction, and support created an environment where students could explore history with confidence,
curiosity, and pride, demonstrating the profound influence that dedicated educators have on student achievement. And whereas three students Zoe Gil, McKenzie Northcat, and Alana Lfont
earned first runner up in the 2026 African-American History Contest >> or their exceptional research project on Queen Latifa, a groundbreaking New Jerseyborn artist, entrepreneur, and
cultural icon whose life and accomplishments reflect the power of women's leadership. And whereas the accomplishments of these students highlight not only their hard work and creativity, but also the essential role
of teachers like Miss Bernett, whose mentorship helps young people discover their voices, develop their talents, and see themselves as capable contributors to their community and to his. Now
therefore, Mayor Susan McCartney and the West Orange Council proudly recognize and commend Joy Bernett, Zoe Gil, McKenzie Northcott, and Alena Levant for their excellence, leadership, and contributions to the celebration of
African-American history. The township expresses a deep appreciation for the educators in our community whose dedication and service continue to shape the next generation of leaders, scholars, and change makers.
So with that and I'm going to ask just tell you a little bit about what she thinks the most meaningful aspects of this we'll take our pictures. >> Good evening. >> Just very quickly uh the commendation
says so much. Um, it basically gives you the background on Amastad, but um, I just want to thank you for acknowledging my award and the award of the girls. Um, it gives the opportunity to shine a light on the important work that the
Amastad law does. It mandates the teaching of African-American history in public st schools through K to 12 in all subject areas. The contest won by my students uh encourages uh students to do
research on African-American history connected to New Jersey. And I just want to say that I'm so proud of the work they did. They put so much time into their project. They spent six weeks in a club working on their presentation,
um learning all about Queen Latifah. I mean, they told me things I did not even know. And it was just so impressive. They had to stand before a panel of judges and answer questions about her life. They had to uh talk about what they found to be the most important
aspects of her life. And I was just very proud. I think when they finished I was like in tears because they did such a great job representing themselves, their families, and Redwood School. And I just um I I was just so proud to see them do
the work not of fourth graders, but I think they worked as if they were middle school students. And they were just so um they were just so well poised and were just so able to just represent all of the knowledge that they had on the
subject matter. So I just want everybody to please give them another round of applause. Let's get a picture over here. >> I told them looking at the picture. >> Okay, Joy. Uh, let's get you girls in the same order as she Okay, perfect.
>> Yeah, the council should go that Okay, look this way. >> All the council Okay, everybody look this way. Take several. Okay, anybody else?
Yes. >> One of the mayor's students Okay, we have one more presentation. Mayor McCartney is going to tell us about Grand Canyon University. >> Council President, thank you for adding this and it just ties in so beautifully with what we just recognized the
students at Redwood. >> Excuse me. Keep it to the g. It's a little >> Could we have it quiet, please, in the audience? >> They're still a little excited. pay your full attention. >> Oh, no. Well, here we are. So, last month's open office hours, I w I J young
man came in from Garden No, I'm sorry, uh, Grand Canyon University to talk about creating a partnership with the township of West Orange. And this is for continuing education either at their beautiful Phoenix, Arizona campus or online. There's how
many CA courses? 300 courses available to take, but the partnership uh with the township for West Orange residents would include a discount on their tuition. So, Brandon Adams is here and Devon Martinez is here to tell us more about that. And I just thought it was a great
opportunity for all ages in our community. So, please come and tell us more. Hello everyone. My name is Bonan Dino Adams. I am coming up here speaking not
only as a West Orange resident but a graduate from St. Cloud Elementary School, Edison, Roosevelt, and West Orange High School. Over the past 10 years, I've traveled around the USA and have ended
up back here to give you guys an amazing opportunity. So, as the mayor said, continuing education opportunity through Grand Canyon University. So, a little bit about me. Who am I? All
right, this is a timeline from me starting at West Orange High School and ending back here in West Orange. In 2014, I became the New Jersey state high jump champion and West Orange High School
record holder in the triple jump. In 2018, I graduated from University of Kansas, became a fourtime NCAA all-American, 10-time first team all Big 12 athlete, and the next year started practicing as
a pro track athlete at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, Phoenix, Arizona is very hot and is a luxurious city, which is why I was there and came back in 2025
to coach their track and field team where I won a conference champion as the jumps coach and was hired as their counselor to oversee all students in Essex County. Now the areas we are going
to overview GC who who is GCU the programs we offer how to actually get accepted and the scholarships we are offering for all West Orange residents.
So, Grand Canyon University, we were established in 1949 in Prescott, Arizona, which is very close to Phoenix, Arizona. We have an in-person campus, which is in Phoenix, Arizona. It's one of the top 20 campuses in the United
States. We also have online education with over 90,000 students currently and growing. one of the biggest universities in the United States. So, becoming a counselor, it is
my job not only to help students get accepted, meaning any resident in West Orange, but also make sure that they also have a scholarship. And I walk them through the exact degree programs they need to be accepted into all the way to
their schedule, all the way through graduation. So, the programs we offer, we actually have over 300 different programs. And if you look at the screen, you're going to see some categories that represent some
of the schools that we have. For example, we have degrees for those in law enforcement, those who are teachers, those who work in the hospital or health care. We even started AI, artificial intelligence, cyber security, special
education business Christian leadership, digital design, film, art, game design, social media, and even marketing. Now, how do classes work? Because of course, if we're taking them online,
people are wondering, how am I actually going to do my work? Do I need to see my professor? So, this is how it works. We actually have our students take one class at a time. The reason being is because a lot of our students actually
work full-time jobs. So, they don't have time during the day to do their work. So, during any time throughout the day, you can submit an assignment. There's never a time where you actually have to see a professor, you have to be on video
chat, or you have to be on screen during a certain time. So, this allows you to do your work. Also, you could have two jobs and still get A's in our classes. Now, in order to make sure everyone is
getting the best grades, we only allow students to take one class at a time, which usually lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. Once you're done with that one course and you have a high enough GPA, you can then double up on classes, which is
extremely beneficial since we don't have any semesters. For example, if you wanted to start classes next Monday, you could. If you wanted to start classes the Monday after that, you could. So, how does enrollment process work? I
am the counselor for all residents in Essex County. Meaning you would go through me in order to get accepted, in order to do your FASA, in order to do your transcripts, get accepted, sign your scholarship papers, and start classes. Now, when it comes to the
application, it is completely free and takes less than 10 minutes. So, if you have time today, we can literally get it done. FASA, of course, is a little bit of a longer process, but of course, I am here to walk you through the whole process. I
literally meet with students every single day, whether it's at Dunkin Donuts. I just had an event at St. Cloud Elementary. Today, I was actually at Liberty Middle School with some of their staff applying as well.
>> Did you enroll anybody from St. Cloud while you were there? So we did have >> So we did have about Oh no no no. So for the teachers actually. Yes. So we go to the different schools in order to enroll their teachers and staff. Now if we are
at West Orange High School, there are those who are high school students of course who can go to Grand Canyon University as well. But we do specify with those who are working professionals because online programs seems to be the
best options for them. Now on to the scholarships. This is the first time in history. All right. First time in history a university is allowing every single
resident of West Orange to get a scholarship. We are starting off with just 10% scholarship which can be built up on depending if we have more students enrolling and the specific major that you are applying for. So I'm going to
repeat that if you are a resident of West Orange you will get a scholarship to Grand Canyon University. Now, like I said, of course, everyone wants to get scholarships when it comes to going to school. So, I am here not
only to make sure that you get the scholarship, but also you can put on your friends, your businesses, and we are hosting events all throughout West Orange to make sure we spread the word. For example, like I said, I was at
Liberty Middle School today. And what we do during these events is we actually host teacher and staff appreciation lunches, meaning that we bring in pizza for the whole staff for them to eat. Whether they're applying or not, they
can get pizza. We also have different GCU supplies, meaning pens, hats, t-shirts that we give out in order to promote Grand Canyon University. So, what I need your help, you residents, I need help
scheduling these weekly events, putting posters up, telling a neighbor, and making sure that if someone needs to go back to college, whether it's your brother, your sister, your neighbor, the person you work next to, tell them all
they have to do is contact Dino and I will get them started. All right. So, this is just two pictures of some of the past events that we had. As you see, I have my Grand Canyon University
um banner up on the table with some pizza from pizza. We have Domino's with some of the GCU supplies. To the right, you see one of the teachers putting on the Grand Canyon University bucket hat, which of course any of you can have if
you come to one of our events. The next slide is a even better picture as you see more pizza and to the right that is the secretary to St. Cloud Elementary where I graduated opening up
her Grand Canyon University bag for all of the staff. So this is not just for these schools. All right. We need to get into the police department. We want the firemen. We want the fire women. We want
every single business and resident to have this opportunity. So, I personally as your counselor am going to be going around sending emails, texting to make sure that you all know about this scholarship and that you have someone
who's actually with you in person who can walk you through every single step. That's applying, that's financial aid, that's picking the perfect degree, and that's also starting your first class
all the way through graduation. Now, I don't know how many people here have been to Phoenix, Arizona, but there is an opportunity for students to go to their graduation in Phoenix, Arizona, which will be the best vacation you've
ever had in your life. Trust me. Now, next to me, actually, this man, Devin Martinez, is the manager for all reps, all counselors in New Jersey. He actually drove down 2 to three hours from New York to be here today to help
me present to you. So, I want to make sure, of course, Devin Martinez has the opportunity to speak and say some details maybe that I have left out. as you can see, is much taller than I am, so I got to lower this down a little bit. Um, no, thank you guys so much for
allowing us to be here tonight. Um, you know, it's hard to follow up Dino's energy, but you know, it's so easy to, um, you know, basically give out these opportunities, right, to, you know, communities when we have, you know, someone great as Dino who's very well
connected, um, and cares about his community like this, right? So, as Dino mentioned, we have over 350 programs, right? So, you know, he mentioned whether you're, you know, looking to become a police officer, an amazing teacher, you know, like we just saw
before here, um, you know, a nurse, or anything that we can help you, right? Find your purpose, right? Find an opportunity for you to, you know, make a generational change within you and your family, right? We want to help you, right? Right. And so we're going to give you guys some really great, you know,
discounts here with your tuition. Um, and make a flexible actual, you know, option for you to go back to school and, you know, make that difference that you want to do. So again, we're very thankful to be here and for this opportunity. If you guys have any questions on how any of our programs
work, please, you know, make sure you reach out to either Dino or myself so that we can get you guys set up properly. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay, with that we can close our conference agenda.
>> Thank you everyone. >> 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 Koviac, >> present. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> here. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President Scarpa, >> present. >> Mayor McCartney. Will everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance?
I aliance to God, United States of America 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. Um tonight, tonight we're going to um go into our executive session a little bit early. I know the public usually w wants to make their public comment. However, our uh legal counsel is here and um
>> council president just want to uh introduce David here. Uh Mr. Samaro unfortunately had a a last minute cancellation. David just introduce yourself for me. >> Council David and Mr. Rivera is in the audience somewhere back there right for our executive session.
>> Right. So we want to make a motion to go into executive session now before we do public comment. I'll make a motion to go into executive session >> to re recess and then go into >> I know the the labor attorney on a >> Yeah. >> And is there a second? Councilman
Foviaak. >> Yes. I I I will second, but I just want to make sure that we approve >> the resolution. >> Yes. >> Before we vote to go into I I think that's crucial. I think that's a two-part process. And I'm >> It's 11626. >> Okay.
>> Okay. So, we want to make a motion to go into executive session. >> Well, they did that and did a second. So, now you want to make a motion to approve 116- >> Approve 16 executive session. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino,
>> yes. >> Councilman Kokovia, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> The motion carries. Now is the I'm going to take a vote on the going into executive session. Councilman I'm sorry.
Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, yes. >> Council President Scarba, >> yes. >> Okay, the motion carries. We are recessed. >> Okay. And I promise we'll make this as quick as possible. I know you all are
waiting for public comment. >> Are we all right? Uh, thank you for your patience, West Orange. As you can see, uh, Township Council is back in their public meeting. And at this time, I'd like to turn the
floor over to council president. >> Thank you. I'm going to make a motion to adjourn the executive session. >> I second. And enter back into public and enter back into the public meeting. >> Thank you. I >> Okay. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Kovia, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. The motion carries. >> Okay. What is next? You want to do public comment, right? >> Yes. Um to go back to
>> All right. So, I can start public comment, right? Yes. >> Okay. Thank you everyone for waiting. Um now is the time for public comment. Can I have a raise of hands uh to see how many people are making public comment? Okay, don't worry.
You're going first, John. All right, good. All right, go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you, Council President. Um I'm I know that we're have a lot to cover tonight, so I'll get through this just as quick as possible.
So, I want to remind everyone that shredding day is April 12th. And I keep bringing this up because you don't want to be caught unprepared with your documents for shredding day. This is on our website and social media. So, uh there are some restrictions. So, I
suggest that you consult that uh before going to the environmental center. And it's worth pointing out this is just for West Orange residents. We also have the free free admission at the spring concert March 25th. Come on out and support the West Orange Community Band
Liberty Middle School. This information is on our social media. And this Thursday, council connection right here in council chambers. Uh 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. And there is no appointment necessary. And uh the mayor's next open office
hours. I can't believe I'm saying April 16th. Where did the time go? 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. also here at 66 Main Street in the mayor's office. No appointment is necessary. Our uh West Orange tax assessor also has open office hours. Uh
and this uh no appointment necessary. This information is available on our website. Um the Township of West Orange annual report for 2025 is available for viewing. I believe it's 70s something documents uh uh pages, I'm sorry, uh in
one document and uh it's available at west.org and on our social media. Also, you may have heard that there was a uh the BNE Real Estate Group donated 1,000K to the Township of West Orange for Ozac. That's wonderful news. There's a full
press release that you can read uh with all the details at westn.org. Uh sanitary shore improvements. This probably affects relatively speaking a low percentage of people, but it's worth noting phase one, Mars Road, Sussex Road, Hunter Road. You can see the
details and schedule at westn.com. Uh, someone was asking here before uh the safe routes that is March 30th. That's coming up uh 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. It's right here in West Orange Town Hall. This is a live owing event. It will not be covered on Zoom. So, please
uh please consider coming into uh council chambers. And if I understand this correctly, this is kind of like a Q&A session. So, if you're not here at 6, uh you're 15 minutes late, you you're not going to miss anything. Come in and get all your questions answered. Um,
also, you know, I mentioned this a couple meetings ago, but it's worth mentioning again. And the reason it's worth mentioning again is because we have an uprise uh not just in West Orange, but statewide with ebikes and ebikes are potentially very dangerous.
And there are new laws enacted that are effective immediately. Uh, however, there is a grace period until full enforcement begins on July 20th. helmets are required and uh there are fines that start at $50. So, please uh if you have
an ebike uh familiarize yourself with the rules and the regulations because as I say, full enforcement will begin uh July 20th. Uh we also have restaurant week. We are in the midst of restaurant week. Uh if you go to the website dedicated to restaurantw week,
westtorang restaurantweek.com, you can see all the wonderful uh restaurants, participating restaurants here in West Orange and all the food. And I'm getting hungry just speaking thinking about that. Um you know, we are spring or we are supposed to be in
spring. It looks like the winter is behind us now. Um so I just want to send out a friendly reminder. uh you know, pick up after your pet and there is a hefty fine up to $700 fine. Uh so, you know, let's be courteous to our neighbors and uh you know, uh so please
pick up after your pet. It's very easy to do. Um I believe someone's going to talk about this. We had a very successful event, West Orange Repair Cafe. I was not there. March 22nd at Toby Cat Civic Center. Uh it was sponsored by four groups. And uh I I'll
leave this to the person who's going to talk about it so as to not steal their thunder. I also want to give a public thank you at a very successful event for Rev 250. As you know, Rev 250 celebrates the uh commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Revolution of the
Revolutionary War and my program at the library this past uh Saturday. Uh we had a great turnout and I just want to say thank you to everyone as we learned about some uh forgotten West Orange Revolutionary War history. Um
this Sunday uh the West Orange Film Festival continues. Politics is the uh uh is the title of the movie. Uh so that's uh at 2 o'clock AMC Theater West Orange. That's the screen town center and you can go to westarnarts.com
uh I'm sorry west I misspoke westarts.org uh for ticket information and I want to bring up something very important before I leave you tonight. Um you know scam alert. There's a scam alert going around and I and I say this that is going
around because I I got it myself and it's a text and you get a a a an official looking notice from uh Municipal Court Newark, New Jersey. And um there, you know, now this is not to say that if you were there and you
ticket violation that it couldn't be legit, but you know in your mind if you were there or not and if it applies to you and you know it makes sense. But I want to warn you to never scan the QR code because the QR code is uh you it is
allowing hackers to get information from you. It's taking to a website where they're capturing your information. So be very lerary of that. And another thing you'll see on a lot of these is report scam at the bottom. And you might think that you're doing good by pushing the report scam, but again you're just filling in information and you're giving
it to the hackers. So, if you receive any notice like this, I understand there was also a notice left on cars in West Orange about parking violations. You know, if you have any question about it, um, call the regular known, uh, police
agency who's issuing it and ask them if there's a Detective Smith or whoseever name is on there to find out if it's legitimate. Um, and and you know, just protect yourself. Uh uh hackers are so um uh clever that you know we have to
stay one one step ahead of them. But if you know I just want to make you aware that these scam alerts are going around and once we publicize one another one pops up. The best thing to do is just hit delete. And uh Anthony Plesi was here earlier.
Uh he told me that he was not going to be able to stay. So, he just wanted me to once again mention the Cherry Bloss Blossom Festival in Branch Brook Park. This is coming up. This information is on our social media, so you can um uh check it out at your convenience. And uh
Council President, would you like me to continue going on and on and on? >> You've done a great job. >> Thank you. And I'll >> Is Miss is Miss Lecoitz here to talk about the >> If you want to call her up, certainly. >> Is uh Miss Lecoitz here? No, she had to leave. Okay. So, I'll just briefly um
>> let me get the slide out. >> Yeah, I'll just briefly summarize it and she'll talk about it at another time, but uh she's our chair of our older adults advisory board and was planning on talking about this. She does have an elderly mother she's taking care of, so
she probably had to get home. Um okay, so as you can see, we had an incredible um repair cafe. I talked about it at another meeting, but a repair cafe is a community building
event where volunteers help resident or their fellow neighbors repair older items that so they can reuse and recycle them rather than them going into landfills. We had electronics that people had repaired all free as a
service to one another. There were electronics, there were bicycles, there was a jewelry repair. people brought in old lamps, furniture. It's an incredible um really a really incredible community building
event and it was a collaboration of Tez Utopia from Buy Nothing West Orange, the older adults advisory board and Laura Van Dyke of Senior Services. And I have to say collaboration is the word. I wish our council and our administration could
work in such a collaborative spirit as we did. Once again, the seniors are leading the way. I also just want to thank um a lot of the vendors who our local businesses who donated food. We have some wonderful community partners.
We had the most delicious pizzas from Bagels by Jared. I would I would suggest everybody go try them. The foodery had a beautiful sushi platter that they have. If anyone's having a party, it's an incredibly be beautiful thing that you
can serve. No maintenance. Takes nothing to put it together. Dunkin Donuts on Northfield Avenue also donated some food. And Jersey Mike's. And when you have a community building like that, maybe it's my Italian roots, but if you
have a little food, coffee, tea, people don't mind waiting. They ended up talking to their neighbors. Some people said they met people in their community that they hadn't seen in a long time. So, it was so successful. I hope we can do it again in the fall and maybe we'll have even more people join us. And
that's nice. >> Yeah, that's about all I'll say that. We'll get right to public comment. I know you're waiting. So, who would like to go first, >> Miss Bernett? >> Yes. >> I'll call you next.
Joy Bernett 63 Pot. >> Of course, you have five minutes. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm not going to be long. I um am coming to follow up on the permits. Um
so, we got letters asking us how many like a survey how many permits we would need for our household. And my neighbors asked me tonight to find out what's happening with them. They also wanted me to voice the opinion of that we all have
that we do not want an electronic system. We would like to have stickers as the other residents have because we will not know who's supposed to be there and who's not if there is not a visible uh a visible way for us to know. Like
we're not going to learn all of the license plates of people in our neighborhood. So, it's not really fair once again that the people who are above Rollinsson have a different system than the people below Rollinsson. We would like to be treated just as our neighbors are and we would like to be able to tell
who should be there and who should not. How would we call the police if there is a car that should not be there? We have no way of knowing. Um, and I think that's about it. But we would like to also we kind people kind of feel like there is this is like a
delay a delay a delay and that you're hoping that the summer's going to come and we'll be able to park again and we'll forget about it. We are not going to forget about it. And I was also told to just speak to the people who are looking to run for election in November
that this is the issue for the valley. We would like to have this parking situation taken care of. I've been dealing with it for over a decade and it should be handled. That's the end of my comments. >> Thank you, Miss Bernett. Who would like to go next? I'm sorry that
you you're going to give your name and your address and you have five minutes to speak. >> Good evening. I'm a gardener from the Veio Garden and that's what I'm talking about. My name is Deborah Arbett. Do you need my address? 1064 Smith Manor Boulevard in West Orange.
>> I am an MD. I practiced in my field and I also oversaw clinical trials for pharmaceuticals and development and this coming season will be my eighth year at the garden. So I will focus on health and safety for seniors in the garden.
Topic number one, shade. We are all well aware that staying outside on a hot sunny day in the summer working in a garden, no matter what age we are, can put us at increased risk for heat stroke if there is no shade. As we age, our
body holds more heat and it does not release it at as easily from the body as it did when we were younger. To not have shade or a place to sit at the garden is a setup for unhealthy outcomes. We need the shade not just for working gardeners
but for teaching sessions we offer to the community. Therefore, tables and chairs with a canopy and a picnic table with an umbrella is not optional. It is fundamentally necessary. Topic number two, water. The need for
portable drinking water in the garden is critical on a hot summer day. As we age, the sensation of thirst decreases, often failing to signal the body's need for water, which increases the risk of dehydration. In other words, some
seniors may not feel thirsty even when they are dehydrated. Water therefore needs to be easily accessible at the garden for fluid intake to avoid adverse effects of dehydration. Having a sink is also necessary for
hygiene. hygiene in the garden. For example, washing hands after working in soil and rinsing vegetables we take home or donate to the food pantry. Topic number three, health attributes. Vegetable gardening offers seniors
significant physical, mental, emotional, and social health benefits. I'm going to break it down into three categories. Number one, physical health benefits. Mobility and strength. Digging, planting, and weeding help maintain or improve flexibility, balance, and core
strength, reducing the risk of falls in the future. Cardiovascular health health regular moderate intensity guard intensity gardening acts as a workout promoting heart health and reducing the risk of heart health of heart attack or
stroke. increased dexterity, digging, potting, and pruning, exercises, hand eye coordination, and fine motor skills, which often decline with age. Vitamin D boost. Time in the sun produces vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune
function. Chronic disease management. It can help manage conditions like diabetes, lower blood pressure, and help combat osteoporosis. Topic subject number two, mental and emotional health benefits. Reduce stress
and anxiety. Gardening serves as a relaxing therapeutic and grounding activity that boosts mood and reduces stress. Sense of purpose. The process of nurturing plants from seeds to harvest provides a rewarding sense of
achievement, joy, and independence. Cognitive stimulation. It helps keep the mind sharp, offering mental stimulation that can benefit those with early stage dement dementia or memory loss and social considerations. Alleviating
loneliness, community gardening or sharing produce provides provides opportunities for social connection. In conclusion, we count on your support for the expansion and renovations we have requested in order to bring more seniors
in West Orange into the congregation of our organic community garden. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your insight. >> My name is Andy Herster. Let's let's have everybody go on the same topic. Let's let the
>> I'm sorry. They are gonna call names and do it in order. >> We're going to do it in order of subject matter. And since everyone's talking about the same subject, go ahead. >> Thank you. >> My name is Sandy Herzburg and I live by
West Orange and I've been a senior garden in West Orange since 2020. I'm here tonight Sandra. You're you're speaking to the mic. >> Oh, sorry. I'm here tonight to address the water needs for the renovated Veil
Garden. With the present garden, we have a water line on one side of the garden. For many years, the water access came from the side of the cat center. Fortunately, a couple of years ago, the Department of Public Works moved the hose access closer to the garden bed. We
are grateful for this as previously we had to climb over an unsafe high stone wall to reach the water and then drag the hose to the garden area. The master gardeners paid for three hoses, nozzles, and spiggots that we currently have. We are also grateful for these
contributions. Going forward, we need accessible water in our newly renovated garden. This would mean two lines to service the right side and additional garden beds as well. Presently there is only one water line with an extension to a post with
the spigot and hoses. This water line is on the left side leaving very limited or no access for the right side. Ideally we want a sustainable irrigation system which conserves water eliminates the need to drag hoses is time to water all
beds early in the morning before the sun and heat of the day evaporate water from hose spraying. On a personal note, I would like to say what the garden means to me. As stated earlier, I joined the senior garden in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. The garden and fellow
gardeners were a lifeline for me. There we all were masked and gloved up, but at least we were outside and with other people. The garden plays a huge part in my life. It gives me purpose and joy along with a sense of community with my fellow gardeners and other residents who
stop by to visit the garden, ask questions, and explore. I am constantly learning new things about gardening from our gifted master gardeners and my fellow gardeners. We all have a common goal to grow and to share when I'm and then I'm lucky to be a member of this club.
>> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Lisa Okyle. I'm at 23 Malarkey Drive. Um >> I'm sorry. Can you repeat the address? >> 23 Malarkey Drive. Thank you. >> Sure. Um, I don't want to just repeat everything that they said, although
everything that they did say. I would like to just reinforce and let you know that um, when Sandy brought up about how important it was during COVID, that is the time when I really fell in love with the garden. I've been a member of the
garden for eight years. It's been around for nine years. I didn't even know it was only in in its existence for one year prior. But um I had to kidnap my daughter and son-in-law from New York City. She was pregnant and my son in
Florida said, "You've got to get her out of New York and bring her to West Orange." And we did immediately brought her here. And of course, they were very phobic. And I couldn't even really see my friends or anything. So I would go to the garden, as Sandy said, and we would
meet other gardeners. And it was really, it sounds corny, but it was a lifesaver. It saved my sanity and I'm not even joking about it. It was really something that I valued and I still value to this day. So when I heard of some of the changes that we wanted and some of them
were not really being looked at seriously, I felt bad because I just thought if you knew how important it was to and not only seniors, but our garden is a senior garden, which I can't believe I'm part of a senior garden,
excuse me. But um it is an amazing I have such gratitude and I'm so impressed with farmers with you know just like a whole new view of life looking at what we do
in this garden and how we donate food to the West Orange food pantries. It's it's community. It's or it's everything positive. There's not one negative thing about it. and it just keeps getting
better and better and I hope it does continue to get better. The only kind of negative thing I had to to say because I do think everything is really positive is that and we were really pleased to hear that the bids went out but I was a
little disappointed that no one in our group was told in advance what was going to be bid for. Like I I thought that especially Bev should have been contacted and told the things that were going out for bid. I just thought it was
respectful and responsible and she's the knowledgeable expert in our group who I will share one thing. The very first thing I learned from her is true. I've been gardening for over 30 years never knowing what I was doing at my house. I moved to West Orange, told about the
garden and I said, "Oh my god, that's the one thing I was really going to miss in my old house." I said, "I have to do this. This is like a wonderful thing." I really was excited. Well, I learned from Bev and I pass it on to everyone I know. When you plant tomatoes, put eggshells
in, grind them up, put them in the soil. It's like Miracle Grow without the chemicals. It's all natural. And I thank you for that. And all my friends thank you for that. So um that's a wonderful thing but uh we would like to have some input and maybe more contact when things
are going to be happening in the garden. We are very we are appreciative about the removal of the artificial turf grass that was now taken out. I mean I was surprised it was ever put in but I'm really happy that you guys decided to go
with taking it out. very wise decision for an organic garden to not have chemicals in the gra in the ground. Um I just I'm really grateful I'm grateful to all of you. Thank you for listening
to us and we do have hope as our shirts say. We uh are very hopeful that everything is just going to keep going in this right direction and that we can continue to grow this and have people know West Orange is kind to seniors
and even young seniors and we hope that this continues for a long time. So, thank you very much, >> Bev Riley Lennox Turus. >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> I guess you could call me
a measure twice, cut once girl. I especially if I'm spending my clients money and especially if they are valuable customers at this point we don't feel as
though we are valued and so my words are going to say how we are pleased but also areas in which we are not pleased and we are hoping that this will change since it has been going on since the grant was first applied.
died for in 2021 and we are still here pleading to have a complete and whole garden. No one could possibly have imagined that this would have been such
a drag. So, it did surprise me once again when we, the senior gardeners at the Veio Community Garden and the primary stakeholders for a quarter of a million dollar grant
were not consulted with the design changes or the details of the bid that went out recently. That means that we're not cutting after we've done a measuring. We're just
putting it out there. And for a town that's in debt, that means it costs us more every time we make changes. So when we deliver to the customer a drawing an archaeological I mean architectural
rendering and it has astroturf in it for the sur the surface which is totally inappropriate for an or natural organic garden with seniors. Anyone would tell you that is just
absolutely crazy. And then to go back to the vendor, the contractor again and say redo it. That costs money. Had the community town people come to us to say we're considering doing this and then we
tell you you cannot put astroturf down, but you go out with it anyway and then have to do it over again. Not only is it crazy, but it's really costly. And we're feeling that as taxpayers. We can do better.
My phone number is on every communication I sent. We are experts in this field. We know what needs to be done. It's really it's shameful. Bill Kho, who's sitting here in the back of the room, told me that in order to
negotiate with public with the um town hall, it's kind of like um divvying up a pie at this juncture. The safety of the senior gardeners is at stake and we're not taking crumbs.
You all know that if it wasn't for us, this grant would have lapsed and this town would have lost a $250,000 grant because no action was taken once the grant was awarded in 2022.
So we are owed and we deserve because we matter and we're a priority to the senior community and we expect communication and respect instead of
belligerance and bullying. The original initiative for this grant was from the senior services department. But somehow this grant morphed from being for the senior garden and for one or two pieces
of exercise equipment into a recreation project with five pieces of exercise equipment for $50,000 for which there is no demand.
And we recently learned that there will be a new 8-foot fence at the softball field and a net over the softball field. This is part of a grant grab.
We also learned that $30,000 of this grant is going to be used for drainage and storm water renovation. I am a big advocate for strain and storm water manicate, but it was not asked for
in the grant in 2021. So, if I go back to Mr. Kho's pie, you can see that we're getting less and less. Our pie is >> up. >> We need your help. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um, I'd like I'd like to say um I'm going to be calling on people. There's no need to stand in the aisles. I'm going to be calling on each individual person, but I know you're anxious, so I will call on Pastor Adam. I know. Um, what I'd like to do, I'm
going to be calling on people. What I'd like to do is if somebody speaks about a certain subject, if you are also speaking about that same subject, raise your hand and let me know because it makes more sense for us to talk about the same subject. one after the other. Go ahead, Pat.
>> Council President, I'm not going to use my time for this, but what you just did is contrary to what you said. I don't have a problem with the garden. As a matter of fact, doctors say we got to do something. We usually should do what the doctor says. I don't have a problem with that, but your management of it was unfair. You said you were going to call
names. So, after she raised her hand and came up, I raised my hand. Those ladies got up and walked up here. They never raised their hand. They never said anything. And you never called on us. But you brought it out when I said something. And what I'm telling you is
and what I believe is you need to and I think your council colleagues need to also hold you accountable to stop showing special favor to the interests that you are connected to and treat all the residents the same way. If you're
going to call names, then you need to do that for everyone. Council President Koviaak actually gave you an exam. When he did something and it did not work, he pivoted. You need to pivot if you're going to treat all of us
as residents the same way and not just serve the interest that you're interested in. I I'm ready for the comments for which I came up here for. >> Doug Adams, Nine Westover Terrace. I think that um that actually kind of
leans into what some of my concerns are. Uh, I've been noticing in previous council meetings that this issue about campaign fundraising is coming up and there are e other issues that are brought up about um someone recusing
themselves um issues about ethics and I think that it is something that the town should be aware of and I think the council should be as a whole should be aware of and the town legal support should be aware of
how some of us as residents are taking this. Let me give an example. In 2024 during a forum at the Jewish synagogue, a current council person who was running for office at that time stood up with a
multi-page document copies of one council person, one council candidates's elect report on who gave what donations. But there were other council people at the time, one who actually got elected,
who got the same similar donations. Even right now, when that council person brings up those election donations and the concern about the developers and bringing it up as an as an ethical
issue, she is only bringing up one council person. Now, I it just happens to be that that council person is a person of African descent, but the reality is there's a council person of European descent that got
similar donations. Not exactly the same, but similar donations, but that's never brought up. It's also true that the council person who brought that and council president uh or councilman
Koviaak got donations from a special interest group that supports environmental issues. So if the council woman should recuse herself from anything that includes somebody she got
a donation from in order to maintain ethics. How come the council woman who brings it up is not recusing herself from any environmental conversation that comes up if she took contributions from
that group? How come council councilman Koviaak is not recusing himself because of those things? But more importantly, I don't think they should. Let me just clarify. But more importantly, why is the councilwoman continually bringing
this up in a biased fashion? It's also true that when Councilwoman Williams first rejoined the council and sat down in the seat, which is the protocol for her to sit down in, that
same council woman stood behind her trying to force her to move out the seat until the other council members said it was inappropriate. When will West Orange get leadership that is not personalitydriven,
biased driven leadership? It is time for us to be able to call these things out. I don't It doesn't bother me. The idea that someone would get money from a developer or from this
person or that person, that is just the most ridiculous thing possible. Everybody in America knows that there is a wealth gap. So if we only got donations or contributions from our friends or our
groups, how many people who live in economically depressed areas would actually be able to run or generate the resources to be able to run? At one point, Jerry Brown even ran for
president and said he'd only take a $100 donation no matter what, so it would be fair for everybody. That dude didn't even make it out of the primaries. It is nonsensical. It is biased and privileged to
constantly try and point out something that positions other people in a better position to run for office than others. And the final thing is this same council woman accused on the record uh another
council woman getting a benefit from the town to run an event up at Rock Springs in the sum of over $20,000. Never came back and said that that sum was actually less than $5,000.
When are we going to be held accountable for accuracy and not just making your time is up to call fire in a theater? >> Thank you very much. Is there anyone who wants to talk about this topic? Okay, then we'll move to Mr. Goldmith.
Justin Gold's men 14 Moran Road. Um just starting um that is a very unique precedent to be starting. I'm glad we'll be following that moving forward. Um so first happy restaurant week. Secondly, Joe, thank you for uh being an awesome temporary crier uh this weekend. It was
great. Um I was glad to see the Make Polluters Pay resolution on the agenda. Uh we're $171 million in debt. Every chance that we have to be both proactive and retroactive in addressing our climate crisis, whether it relates to storm water management, trees, heat,
island studies, we should be doing. This bill would do that. This bill is sponsored by our state senator and our state assembly woman because our town is going to bear the brunt of a lot of these uh environmental crises. I thought it was on the agenda and now it says
removed. Um, but I hope it can stay on there. Um, next, it's almost April. Uh, Verona at their council meeting last night introduced their budget. Just wondering when the public will get a copy of the proposed budget since it's due by the end of April and the residents of this town deserve the
opportunity to opine and scrutinize the budget to make sure our issues and our priorities are heard. Um, didn't plan to loop in the garden with this, but it speaks to an issue about not consulting partners and our, you know, volunteers that we have in town. Um, I'm not
speaking for any commission or any board or any other individual. The last council meeting, there was an agenda item that had an ordinance amendment to the rent leveling board. We all talked about the concerns that were there and hopefully they've been ironed out. I'm not talking about that amendment. What
really alarmed me was that was a fundamental change to the practices and functionalities of the rent leveling board. And the acting chair of that board spoke that she was not notified that that was happening. I'm on the environmental commission. We have debates up here about amending the tree
ordinance, deciding who's going to place the trees when they die, uh the West Essex Highlands projects, and our commission has never consulted on them. We can't ask people to volunteer their time and to rightfully honor us once a year as volunteers, which is a very nice
and important recognition, but then don't give us the the credibility or the ability to actually benefit the town in the ways that we're assigned to do. So when we sit on these boards and they say, "What can the boards do more?" And then we come to the meetings and there's a fundamental change to the theory and
the makeup of what the practice of those are. Those are conversations that should be had prior to a vote on those things. So I drafted an ordinance. I did not have time to print it. I will email it as soon as I sit down here outlining what I think should be amendments to anytime there is a fundamental change in
the scope, assignment practices, selection practices or anything like that that impact the functionality, the scope and the capabilities of our volunteers on the commissions that cannot be up here until those commissions are given the opportunity to hear that at their monthly commission
meeting. opine and provide non-binding but hopefully productive feedback because we shouldn't be blindsided when we come to a meeting and you're telling us what we no longer have the scope to do or the limitations as a commissioner. That was just rude in my opinion to the volunteers that spend so much time
giving back to this to fundamentally blindside a commission with no heads up that you are changing what they can do. I'm not speaking for anyone on that commission or my commission. I'm speaking as a commissioner who would have been offended if the capabilities of something that I care about were being stripped away or amended without
notifying the commissioners of that. Um, thank you for securing the Colgate grant. It's always a great move when we can provide improved spaces and outdoor activities for our residents. Um, once again, there's an a cannabis topic on the agenda tonight. Not talking about that item, but we approved the retail of
cannabis in this town. Whether you were for or against it, it is now legal to do so following our regulations in town. Given that budget season is underway, I'm asking you all to revisit the SABA 2025 recommendations on page 10, where the SBA advises the town council to
re-evaluate the cannabis ordinance for revenue opportunities. One revenue opportunity was already presented to the council. It will raise tens of thousands of dollars each quarter to help us offset the $171 million municipal deficit we face. All that amendment
would do is say you can stay open the same time that cannabis shops in other towns can and in line with our liquor stores. I don't care if you like cannabis or not. We are losing tax revenue while we handicap the ability for our small businesses to operate and we are losing
revenue opportunity. Lastly, uh as we continue to learn about the pros and cons of AI, I want to caution and encourage our town to try to regulate the influence of AI on our elections. There's legal challenges with speech and I think that we can regulate disclosure of AI. However, um there's proposed
state legislation to moving to do just that. But as AI damages the planet, misleads the public, hurts job growth, we should not be uh applauding that in our election. So I ask us to look at some type of way where we can curtail that. Thank you very much for your time tonight.
>> Thank you, Miss Meanka. Good evening, Sally Malanga Ridge Road. On behalf of our Green West Orange members, I have a few issues uh that I'd like to
discuss. I'd like to start out by asking our council president not to sacrifice the uh public comment time for executive session. Uh we lost about 25% of the public during the time that you were out
uh who wanted to speak to you and they're not here now and there was a lot of frustration expressed. So I hope you'll reconsider that for the future. uh three topics. One, the police contract. Uh reading exactly from our
municipal code, you really cannot let a contract out that goes any further than the mayor's current term, which is the end of this year. It's in our municipal code under appointment powers of the mayor. uh that each department head
shall serve during the term of office of the mayor uh appointing him or her and until the appointment and qualification of his successor regarding uh the artificial turf that was on that was off I think it's off now but I did prepare something about I
think we ought to educate ourselves about that uh our Green West Orange members do not want plastic turf in our public parks uh and that would include anything near the public vegetable gardens. The science itself is eyeopening. We cannot
see this or feel it but it but this plastic is in us. Uh 2025 study by uh nature in nature medicine found that the average human brain now contains what looks like a plastic spoons worth of
microlastics. There are red, green, and blue pellets popping out of the plaque in our arteries. And artificial turf is a known culprit as it breaks down. It can also reach 150 degrees in the hot summer in the direct
sunlight, accelerating the shedding of the plastic particles into into the soil and water and even the air. Um, you know, kids are playing on it. It's not safe. It's not a fringe concern. uh other towns and professional sports
organizations across the country are banning it. So uh our members are asking that the administration review the current science on the on this material because evidence is sufficient to say no. Our park should not be a source of plastic
contamination for our children and everyone who uses the parks. Regarding pay-to-play, transparency uh is very important in our contracting process. Paytoplay, which is the practice of awarding public contracts to
vendors who have made campaign contributions, is legal under state law. But legal is not the same as right, and it is not good governance. When contracts are based on who paid
rather than who is most qualified, we don't get the best work for the best price. We get money rewarded over merit. We've seen the co the consequences here in West Orange. Tax abatements that cost our schools, overcrowded classrooms,
170 million in debt that's been mentioned. And the debt doesn't materialize out of nowhere. It reflects years of decisions made for the wrong reasons. This is not a local problem in isolation. We see it in every level of government. Contracts and favors flowing
to those who paid for access. The antidote is the same at every level. Transparency and accountability. Our Green West Orange members urged this council to require that for every contract on the agenda, it be publicly
disclosed which contractors have made contributions to which council members or the mayor before the vote is taken. Sunlight is not a partisan issue. It's how democracy earns the public trust. Thank you for taking action on this
matter. >> Thank you very much, Miss Langanger. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> I use this. >> Joseph Pulo, 200 foot notice area, West Essex Highlands. Nice to see you all again. I came here
uh for three simple reasons. Um and I'd like to if you'll indulge one of those reasons is to provide information that isn't should be in the public domain. It was provided via Oprah is not yet and I brought copies for
everyone here but would really be thankful and appreciative for the benefit of the public >> if possible I won't track through it but >> sure go ahead. >> So thank you madam >> you could stop. Sorry,
Mr. >> While Joe wanted to screen. >> Well, while Joe does that, just recap the last planning. So, >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. >> Because I said so.
>> Go ahead, Mr. Penula. We We >> Thank you. >> But we don't do that. Just so everyone knows March for uh 4th was the last planning board meeting number 29 deliberations occurred and just the result was a decision by consensus I believe to allow the developer to come
back applicant to come back and address some public safety and environmental concerns. Traffic circulation was a concern. Opal road is a collector and the only way in and out was a concern. A secondary roadway, not just for ingress and eress, but for also emergency management, including a water tower for
fire safety. Sanitary sewer capacity conveyance from the site to the township system. Sanitary sewer designed across the storm water basin, which is in the plan now, which legally can't occur, and addressed as an existing sanitary sewer lines to Verona, which serves the condos
since the 1980s and goes up and across the mountain. Also, the odor that was uh that comes out of there has been addressed or is being addressed. Uh Mike Fonino has been there many times. I don't know if it's been resolved. I know it's not resolved yet. I don't know how it was addressed. But the topic I want
to pick up here with regard to storm water management flooding in the wetlands and the upper wetlands. That drawing and I brought with me an OPER request that was fulfilled by the D on January 14th and sent by the chief records custodian of the NJD
on January 14th of this year after five months of requests from EELC to Princeton Hydro. And I'll just without I'm color blind and that's a little tight to see but I brought 24 by 36 in printouts for everyone and unfortunately
the township engineer has already overwhelmed but to demonstrate that this oper this is a a map these are field notes taken by the DP and the applicants engineer in 2018 and 19 that were not part of the
application not part of the of the I submitted more in town than anybody. The town doesn't have this document. Now you should and I will provide it. It was not part of the permit application submitted nor the approval without seeing all the details. You'll
be able to look at them in pink in WC55 to 42 there's water runoff outside of the line. That's a line a wetland line verification. in yellow W32 33 32 they're standing pond in H2O stained leaves B8 saturated soils area 11
they're circling outside the area water flowing out 10ear redux oxidized channels standing saturated everything I'm describing is not in delinated wetlands it's outside to the southeast border of the Verona sewer line there's borderline soils
westerly along that sanitary shoreline to Verona there's vegetation outside of the litigated area similar to vegetation within delineated areas. There are strong redux and manganesees in WC 103 104 WC 110 water in the whole redux 111
to 115 water flowing in and out with redox evidence of channels and standing water saturated soil soils. These are seasonal high water table numbers that are wrong that are not correct in the application. The facts are in the hands of the DP that do it didn't disclose it
until recently. There are also saturated soils and water immediately filling a boring hole east of B10 and 11. I'll stop there. There's enough and I'm not an expert and I challenge anybody. Please prove me wrong. This information
came from the D that they had. It came three days prior to the D commissioner an hour before the inauguration of our new governor sending in a response to our request of May 7th to the D. to suspend the permit by its own rules
because the data were incorrect. That report is also attached here. The data that couldn't possibly have been correct because it wasn't disclosed and is shown there to be known and not included and outside of the wetlands area. These are the uplands. This is this is the Canub
Brook headquarters. This is the the slope and in between. This is up north. I left a copy for a reason. I'd like you all to have it. I'm sorry to have to ask you to have it, but somebody's got to oversee what's happening here. And when the developer comes back with new information, let it be addressed. Last
piece in the state development and redevelopment plan, the chief of the of the Ramapo Lapi. >> Thank you. And tried to enter evident evidence into the record. He was disallowed. I will just remind people that in the new SDRP plan of one of whom
authors actually was one of our experts. It says that the state historic resources identify historic areas, landscape, sites and ceremonial stone landscapes. And it goes on to say investigate, protect and document those resources and investigate invest in
investigate sacred sites. >> Could you summarize >> and conclude? Yeah. Thank you very much. I >> appreciate your accommodation. Is there anybody else who wants to talk on this topic? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. >> Oh, >> thank you.
>> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Nice to see you again. >> Good evening, Seth Letter West Orange. You know, I come to these town council meetings and somehow I get drawn into conversation. I think it's important to know why Joe Pano keeps coming to the council with this crazy information. I
think that's why everyone's looking around and saying, "Why? Why do we need to know this? Because the ordinance that this council voted on, that zone overlay created this mess that we've been dealing now with 3 years. This council
could have changed the ordinance. Settle an agreement or no settled agreement. An attorney can advise you. You could have been advised by a previous attorney. That's why we have a town attorney. That's why Joe Puro keeps coming up to this meeting. You
Whether they had an application or not, I don't know the law or land use law, but that ordinance and that ordinance approved the settlement agreement and gave the green light there. The applicant's own attorney stated, I will share the lingual. I didn't come
prepared to say this. He stated the council knew exactly what they were getting into. You knew where this was being built. You knew the repercussions and you knew what was going to be responsible for. You had the settlement
agreement in your hands. You knew that this town would be on the hook for the sewer connection and anything that's needed for that to make that happen if this planning board approves it. You could have changed the ordinance. You could have residened the ordinance. But
no, we kept on pushing forward and the people keep fighting. That's why Joe P was here giving you this information because this information is important when we are passing ordinance to create zone overlays for construction that is
championed by maybe one or two people not collaborately not collectively through all our resources and all the people here. So that's why Joe Panulo's here and I wanted to share my comment because this council can have some power, can make the changes, but we
can't just shake our heads. Yes, we know that we have a big problem on our hands and it's almost 2 years of meetings at a planning board which 30 residents from different towns have shown up. We've shown disrespect from our towns. We're not going to be able to work with them
and even the Essex County Commissioners doesn't even like this project. So, I'm not sure what we're doing, but that's why Joe's here giving you these pieces of information. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else who'd like to make public comment?
>> No. Okay. Seeing none, we'll close public comment. >> Okay. >> Councilwoman Williams, would you get us started? >> Good evening, West Orange. Uh this has been a rigorous meeting thus far. Um but
thank you for coming out this evening. Thank you for those of you who are watching on Zoom. Um despite some of the information that's been shared with the public and their frustration. Um today is actually a very exciting day for West Orange with the opening of our Target
store. The energy from this afternoon soft opening basically said a tremendous amount of positivity. residents showed up, businesses showed up, and there was a clear sense that there's something meaningful happening in our community.
There is in my community a tremendous amount of understandable criticism surrounding Target and their cancellation of many DEI initiatives. But today also reminds us that the importance of continued economic growth
and opportunity is still right here in West Orange. This target edition brings jobs, convenience, and increased foot traffic that will not only benefit West Orange, but all of Essex County. What we witnessed today was more than just a
store opening. It was momentum. It was possibility. It's a glimpse at what strategic investment can look like when it comes to strengthening our local economy and enhancing quality of life for our residents. This is a great day for West Orange and I look forward to
building on this energy as we continue moving forward. For those of you who spoke referring to the garden, um certainly that has been removed from our agenda this evening and many of your considerations have been taken into
consideration. Um I do agree that we do need to have a lot more collaboration as you heard not with just your organization um but several of the boards and commissions uh within our township. Uh we have some wonderful
experiences happening with the senior or advisory or the senior uh boards. Um again we still need continued and better collaboration. Um we need to also be mindful that when we are behind the deis
we serve as liaons for some of these different boards and commissions and the role as a liaison is not to direct any of our employees on what they should and should not be doing um but to support those boards and organizations um so
that they can benefit as advisory boards to our township. um also wanted to talk about cannabis um have seen and and support and the extension of those hours um so that we
can receive increased revenue and support our small businesses. Um if Mr. Deniac has the capacity this evening. I did not put this back in the email as a question, but I have asked in the past what was our 2025 revenue um from our
cannabis entities. So, if you could provide that information, I would be um grateful. Um, also wanted to just briefly discuss what transpired um, with the PowerPoint presentation or a presentation
um, in the middle of public comment. Granted, public comment does give us all five minutes to speak, the public five minutes to speak. Um, but I do agree that we do have to be consistent in the application of how we administer
opportunity. We have never had anyone from the public ever present unless it was during the conference agenda during public comment. This set a precedent that now anyone who comes up to the to the microphone should have the capacity
to show a PowerPoint presentation if they decide to. And yes, it is with the permission of the council president who is sitting at this time. But now this president pre president has been established. Again, when we state that
we're going to call on people by name, then that should be the practice that is implemented. We can't sit here and talk about public trust if we're not exhibiting and and following our own directives.
So, I just I'm very concerned um how this is going to play out at our remaining meetings. Is anybody else going to challenge the fact that you can now utilize the screen? What if it's not something that
is appropriate? What if it's not something that you advocate for? What if it's not something that you support? Are we now going to tell them that they can't show that because it wasn't something that we liked?
Again, we have to be mindful of how we are governing ourselves in addition to how we are expecting our residents to respond. We sit here, we talk about things that are not gerine to the decisions that we
have to make and it's allowed. But yet, we implement rules here that you all have to follow. You can't come up and speak more than once to a subject. You only have five minutes.
Everybody has five minutes. But then some of us are cut off at the end of 5 minutes and 2 seconds. And then some of us are allowed to just continue talking and summarize your last comments. That's not consistent leadership and
that's not fair to the public. And if we're going to ask that residents are held hold us accountable, then we also have to hold ourselves accountable. This is a two-way street. It's not just because I'm sitting in the chair, I can
do whatever I want. if we're not consistent and fair to the public. There were so many other persons that came out and had excellent excellent excellent
feedback. I agree. We still don't have any resolution on the parking situation in the valley. We don't even have a response from the administration other than saying, "I'm
working on it. we're working on. If we had a study, we need resolution. We need to say when we're going to do things. We need to give realistic timetables of what people can expect and when it can expect to be done.
When you know better, you do better. And I think each of us up here know better. But we're not doing better. We have to serve our community. We have to listen to the demands and requests of our community. And it's our job as the
elected officials to figure it out immediately, as quick as we can. We all know that government moves very slowly at a turtles pace, but it doesn't mean we can't keep the community informed.
And I'm just going to ask that council president, I may have some more remarks. Um, I appreciate you always giving me an opportunity to go first. So, I thank you for that, but I'm going to yield my time. And if I have something else, I'll ask uh for your grace and courtesy to
continue to speak. >> You could go ahead. >> I I just asked you for an opportunity. I'm done for right now. And if I can think of something else, then I'll come back. Okay, Councilwoman Ruden. >> Sure. Um, good evening everyone. I think
that the comments tonight fall under basically three different categories. One, we see constant reference to not including the stakeholders, whether they are the gardeners, whether they are the residents of the downtown area, um
whether they are the rent leveling board and also the residents who live by West Essex Highlands and what's happened over there. Um for Miss Bernett and the problem with the parking, that problem could be solved in five minutes with the
will. This is ridiculous. We have asked over and over and over. Give the neighbors their permits. Put the stickers on the car. Let them be able to identify who lives in their neighborhood
if somebody is there improperly. Five minutes and the will. That's all it takes. We don't need to hear one more time that we are working on a global solution with electronic um identifiers. Just give the people their permits. For
goodness sakes, 10 years coming here, it's enough. Um for the gardeners who came here, each one more eloquent than the last. Um this is just a very simple issue as well. The reason why they are here tonight is because the RFP went out
for the garden area and for Degman Park. That's why they came here tonight. There is no resolution before us. It is the fact that a bid went out and they suddenly became aware that a bid went out. And guess what? In this bid spec,
the all of the things that they asked for, a list of 32 things that are going to be delivered, they're getting four. this bid project, this entire project was meant for them. It started in 2020.
They kept asking where is this project? The mayor said she had a big plastic check in her in her office and she was waiting for the money to appear. That's not how it works. They kept coming back and coming back and coming back and saying, "Where when is it going to get
better? When do we get our water? When do we get the raised beds? when do we get to make this better? And instead, what happened is in their lovely little garden area, the trees were cut. So now they had no no shade and they the beds
were never raised. So now we have an RFP, which is a a bid that's going out to the public where these gardeners should have been consulted. They are the experts in terms of what they need. They can tell you and they have told the
administration. It's not the council who is involved at this level. They told the administration what they need and they were told by the administration that they will put the bid together the way they see fit. So now we here we are. The
bid has gone out. bids will come back and things will need to be changed because for goodness sake these gardeners don't have easy access to water. How do you have a garden without easy access to water? And now they don't have
the shade. So they're asking for trees and instead what they got is a co-opted project which is now predominantly for the recreation department with this exercise for for the senior community that they didn't want and they don't and
they don't need which has taken money from their grant. And guess what? those senior uh exercise equipments are going on artificial turf in an area which has far too much artificial turf
and is the reason why this area is flooding because there's so much artificial turf in this area. So this is insanity. Let's listen to our residents. They're telling us very simply, give us parking. give us the few little things
that we need so that we can give back to this community in the way that we know best. And what happened last week with our rent leveling board with a major change going on with the rent leveling board without consulting the board itself that that was that was insanity
too. Um Mr. Pnull, you've come to us, you're always eloquent, you're always trying to educate us, and I would like to know what we can do as a council. Initially, I asked that we reverse the ordinance which restricted which which
allowed this developer to not follow any environmental code in this area. This council, not when I was on it, but this council allowed for that to happen and I wanted to reverse that. I was told that somehow we couldn't do that. I'd really
like to know if we can and if we if we legally can can do that because I'm all in favor of it. this area needs to be protected. You've shown us that it has wetlands all over the place, that it has sacred sacred um uh in uh pieces of of
um structures that are for from the indigenous community that need to be preserved. If there's anything that we as a council can do, please let me know exactly what it is and I will propose it. Um, Sally, thank you so much for coming
out and speaking about paytoplay. You're right. It's not illegal, but there's an issue of transparency here that I think is necessary. I think it's important that everybody know who's given to who, whether or not they choose to recuse themselves. That's another issue. But it
is an issue of transparency and is very important to me as a council person to know it. and it's very important to you as residents to understand what's going on and what may influence votes. So, thank you so much for for listening to me and I really appreciate everybody who
came out. >> Great. Council Kroak. >> Uh, yes. Thank you, >> Ms. Bernett. Uh, good to see you again. I want to say congratulations to you and your students on the award that we uh
commemorated earlier today. Uh I think you're more than within your rights to ask what the status is on the uh plan from the administration. It's almost April. This has been going on for uh a lot of months. And so I I would at some
point ask that uh uh Mr. from or someone else from the administration could update us on where the plan from the administration stands. Uh, I want to thank all the gardeners
that came and if the township did not consult with the gardeners or adequately consult with the gardeners that that would be a huge missed opportunity and in the larger sense it should be a best
practice as the gardeners and Mr. Goldsman uh made clear. Uh, Pastor Adams, thanks for uh, raising these issues related to campaign contributions. I'm going to have to review my 2024 contributions to better
understand uh, your concerns. I in any case I believe we should have maximum transparency on political contributions especially when the recipients of the contributions are voting on issues and contracts that benefit the contributors
regarder regardless of whether it's just an apparent appearance of conflict of interest or is a is a uh a real cont uh conflict of interest. uh so that residents who care about this issue can
uh know more about it more easily and hold us uh accountable. Um, in terms of best practice with, as I mentioned earlier, with the rent leveling board, I have spoken and
emailed quite a bit with the acting president of the rent level board uh, and uh, suggested that she consult with all of the members of the board and provide their input on this
proposed ordinance. and she told me that the group was also looking at the entire ordinance even be uh the entire rent leveling board rent leveling law I guess or ordinance uh even before this happened and uh when I suggested to the
administration it uh graciously agreed to pull the ordinance until we can get better organized and informed on this. So I want to say thank you to the administration. Um uh couple of people mentioned our our
debt and just want everyone to know we have a huge amount of debt but the council along with uh the administration has developed and approved a debt management plan that will uh if followed eliminate our debt uh over 11 or 12
years and allow us to remove that burden on 12% % of our operating budget for debt service of the debt. So, uh it's one of the things that I think the council is very proud of what we've done since our
um our term started in January 2025. Uh Mr. Weissleader uh u referenced the uh ordinance that uh and said ordinance with relation to the West Essex Highlands.
Now before I go there, I just want to thank Mr. Panula once again for coming to bring more information on West Essex Highlands to the broader uh audience than what's been uh than the people going to uh the planning board meeting.
So I appreciate that. Uh Mr. Weisser was talking about and please forgive me if I I constantly butcher your last name. So I I appreciate you have a very easy first name sort of like me. But uh the the ordinance he was referencing was an ordinance that was
uh approved by the council to settle litigation filed by the uh developer Rest Sussex Highlands and it was very specific in the settlement agreement as
to what the township had to do with regards to the ordinance and and that's what we did uh to settle that and this still gave the planning board uh the opportunity to review the project
the the plan the project and the application and in addition to that if if either side does not like whatever the planning board eventually rules it can be appealed to the uh to superior court but
I I do agree with him on one thing which is that most of us here in the council chambers and throughout the rest of the town appear to also not like this situation. But we have to follow the law
and that's what we're trying to do. And and all really all we can do is to work towards use uh following the law and getting the uh final decision that best benefits our
community and the entire environment uh from the site on down through all of the drainage. Thank you, Council President. Great. One has to leave. >> Yeah. Thank Thank you, Council President. Um, thank you everyone for
coming down. I know you had to wait tonight. We were in close session. Um, you know, we have a lot you have a lot of lawsuits floating around and we have a lot to discuss. So, um, thank you for waiting. The attorney had to, um, uh, be
out of here by 8:30. That's why we had to go first. Uh, so it wasn't we really didn't have a choice in the matter. So, I apologize about that. Um, Joe Panulo, um, I always admire when you come in and I
appreciate all the time and effort you and the entire group has put into this. And tonight, I just to go over my uh, colleagues comments on why her and I might have said something about when you put something up on the screen. I was as
much as I'm appreciative of it, it's just it's it's just not our format because now moving forward someone else may want to put something on the screen and you know how that goes. So we just create a problem moving forward. So I apologize. I don't want you to feel bad but I do appreciate the work and I
always read everything and I got to echo my uh colleague sentiments uh Councilman Kroviaak because him and I were on the council. I am sickened that I am the signature of the council president of that ordinance uh back in 2020. But at
the end of the day again, you know, it it it was a law lawsuit and you know, it's what we h were told to advised to do by our attorneys. Seth, you were very eloquent in your statements and uh but at the end of the day, just just so
everybody knows, we have a new attorney that we have now that new firm that has been has come here via this new council. So the new council, you know, is all favorable of the new law firm. To my
knowledge right now, no one on this deis has has brought, you know, recommendation to the and I apologize if I'm wrong to my colleagues to our new attorney uh asking for the ask of, you know, creating a new ordinance to
overturn the prior ordinance decision. If I'm wrong, I apologize. And if our new attorney advises us that we could do that and he advises us to do that, you know, that that will be something we could look at at that time. that that situation hasn't occurred as of now
unless you know I apologize if it has I I'm not aware of it but again we are you know we spent the better part of this m earlier part of this meeting being advised by attorneys and you know you're an attorney so you know how that goes so
that's all I'm going to say on this subject matter and uh I appreciate everyone coming here and to advocate for for that subject in regards to the uh uh master gardeners that you know I just I was very good friends with Mr. Veio. God
bless God bless him. Um he was when I was in the Rotary Club, he was Rotarian and he's just a wonderful wonderful man and it's so great that his memory and his name was brought up multiple times
tonight. He would be so excited that all the gardeners are really enjoying the garden space. I don't I don't think he'd be I think he'd be a little bit more upset about the controversy over it because that was Nick. Nick was very nononsense, you know, let's get it done
and let's move forward and work on it. But um and I'm glad they're really enjoying it. I'm glad it was bringing so much happiness and and I you know I hear about exercise and whatnot, but I'm a little confused about the situation and I I appreciate I see Mr. Kio and Mr. uh
Johnson in the uh audience and Mr. Kio I guess you're here tonight. I guess you're bored in retirement. I appreciate you watching this evening evening. You miss us. Um but you know in 2020 in the middle of COVID where everybody was home
um I was I was deeply involved working with Mr. Kio uh Laura Van Dyke and senior services on this grant and at the time of this grant it was a grant that was going to be utilized by the recreation department. Um uh we just got
off we just got done doing a senior survey where the seniors wanted you know various items. Mrs. Morelli, your friend, council president, Mrs. Morelli, advocated for this equipment. And so we're very pleased to have that be a
part part of it. Mr. Kio actually advocated uh to expand the garden because at the time the garden was set up by Mr. Ve uh Mr. Veio's family to be used for the mayor's program for the disabled. I see uh Pastor Adams shaking
his head and and with the high school. So the idea was the high school students could walk down after uh school and participate and that was under and that was uh uh uh Mayor Pesy under his tenure. And so at that time the program
started out of work grade and like co everything gets ruined and and little by little the um the gardeners uh which was great. we had a the plots and it wasn't being utilized by the school system and you know and they you know the master gardeners came in and they're awesome
and the program grew which is wonderful. Now um I don't know where all that got lost in items not being um uh being purchased but at the end of the day I know there was a lot a lot of meetings. Um, I'm not a, you know, I
agree with the artificial turf, uh, you know, would get hot for them. They should have shade, but if there's an itemized list with the administration and if there's like a a need of what, you know, I'd be happy to donate to them. I mean, if they have a 501c3 that
they may start or they have being I think they are part of that brokerage program, they may have one there. Maybe they could do like a fund of uh you know, you know, raise some uh additional funds uh for their needs. I can't imagine this list is that costly. But
whatever the case may be, I can't, you know, I just can't believe we can't uh resolve it with some, you know, whether we put it a little bit in capital budget. I I don't know how expensive the water and the administration. Do you know what the costs are for the water?
>> I'm going to speak about the whole thing. So, okay. about your comments. Okay. I I could probably answer most of your question. >> Okay, great. Because I will I do want to keep it short because our dad my dad's alliance group is here patiently waiting all these hours to to present their
budget to uh to the um to the public. But anyway, at the end of the day, um you just really excited that they're here. I'm glad they're enjoying it. And I can't believe this is a problem we cannot resolve with uh you know, with here in the township. This one I as I
would say is an easy one. Uh Mr. Panol's not so much, but this one uh very very easy to solve and we and we should do so and I really appreciate them feeding the food pantry. That's awesome. Uh Justin Goldzman, you know, just I just love
your energy. Always great ideas. um when we get to the I feel bad because you know the resolution I'm not going to be able to support because I I made a I I I made a you know I I committed to not
supporting any resolutions of that nature uh because of what happened two years ago and that's the only reason otherwise I'd be full steam ahead not an issue. Um, also tonight there was one/3 list. Let
me get everybody. Okay. And then the last thing I'm going to talk about is is a couple of the positives cuz it's going to be a tough year. There's a a election this year. Big election. Oh, the permits. Miss Bernett. First of all, congratulations.
His kids were adorable. Love Redwood School. My kids went to Redwood. So I I expected nothing but but less than that. Uh they were wonderful. Um but I guess the administration should talk to that as well. And council president too. I think sometimes with
administration items they should probably go first before before we speak. They should probably go first to cut down on our comments. >> Um but it but let's see. I just want to
make one more comment and to wrap it up. >> I'm sorry. What was the last one? Want to speak about then? I'm sorry. >> Uh the permits. >> Yeah, the permit. Yeah. >> I just want to make sure we got everything. I'm just checking off the list here.
Um okay, that's it. I'm going to wrap it up because I know downtown's coming up. It is restaurant week. If you haven't gotten out to one of our restaurants, please do so. they really could use your support um with these tough economic times and you know it was just great today with Target with the grand opening
to echo my colleague sentiments earlier we all ran up there didn't know they were having their big grand opening today but we all managed to get there because it's it's just so important for this community just to see you know the you know that was something that went in
works a few years back and to see come to fruition Um, I want to thank our director, uh, uh, uh, Janice Gary Adams, Tom Bandi, uh, all the administration, um, you know, Carvance family for
reinvesting in our community. Uh, as a young girl, I remember Corvettes. That's how I'm giving my age away. And then Cowdors before Kmart and now it's Target. and just to see that shopping center boom and to have economic development because a lot of these
items, you know, we see and we're waiting and we're waiting and now, you know, hopefully this will be a kickoff to many more great things to come to our community. So, I just wanted to to state that. So, thank you to the administration for all your efforts
there moving that mountain. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you. I'll summarize my uh comments pretty quickly so we can get right to Mr. answering the questions. Um, thank you to Joy Bernett, uh, Joy Bernett and the kids who came down. They were incredible. Um, I do want to say that I
have to agree. Um, I had asked for a timeline um, at several meetings. I think we've been more than patient. But, you know, her point is well taken that um this system that we have may not really tell the residents who's who
belongs there and who doesn't and that the permit parking as many other streets have probably is a better solution for them. So, I'll let um Mr. Smeldo uh P opine about that in a little bit. Um
Justin, thank you for uh your comments as usual. You're right. You know, you're right on all the key issues. The budget, well, we will talk about it needs to come out ASAP. And the lack of collaboration has been an ongoing problem in our community, not only for
our residents, but for our council. We are so often frustrated by the lack of collaboration. And you know, it's everything from not having enough information to having items put on the agenda at the last minute, which we're
going to have to address today. Um, we really need to be u more respected. You need to be more respected and we need more collaboration and hopefully the seniors did show us the way. Um, Sally Malanga too, you have um a great point
about paytoplay. Um I have said many times and at the last meeting we know that in Washington lobbyists write our legislation. We know lawyers craft legislation with loopholes so that these
contributions can be made. It actually facilitates it. Everybody knows I take no money from anyone. I won my seat with under $2,000 of my own money. When I run again, I will be using my own money to fund my campaign. I am not wealthy. I'm
a speech pathologist in the schools. It's probably somewhere around the cost of some kind of vacation. But I think it's so important and just because something is legal, I don't feel it's ethical to take campaign contributions, particularly from people that we do
business with. Um Joe Panula, thank you for your presentation. I um I appreciate your video. I mean, many people come here with handouts. Many of these um things that we want to talk about are very complex. Some of the RE
West Orange issues are very complex. And I think this warranted a video. And I will say to anyone else, don't come and just throw videos up here for no reason. But if you're talking about a complex subject, you have a handout. If you need to put something on the screen, I see no reason why you should not have that
opportunity. We want to hear from you and we want to learn about complex issues. Um in terms of the um lining up, no one has to line up in the um in the alleyway in the hallway here. I am going to call on each person and I would like
to do it by subject. I think it makes a lot more sense if somebody comes up and talks about a topic or a subject that someone who also has a comment about the same thing would go right after them. So I am going to make it a practice of handling it that way. So everybody sit
down and relax and you will all get your turn. I will not cut anyone off. If somebody has a substantive comment or um a substantive thought to complete their commentary, I will let it go beyond the five nets because I think certain
complex issues warrant it. Um, Seth, thank you for uh coming and um enlightening us too about some of the issues over in the Highlands. Um, I will let uh talk to us about what can be done
in terms of the ordinance. I think that's one we'll punt to them. Uh, last but not least, all the gardeners who've came. Uh, I completely agree with all your commentary. Um, I've spoken with many of you. I do have one Pam Golden who could not be here tonight who asked
me to read her letter and I will end with uh the reading of her letter before we put this to the administration and see what can be done. and she addressed this to the council and said, "As a member of the West Orange Senior Garden, I am writing to share my comments regarding the delay in responding to and
acting on the $250,000 grant of which a significant portion was intended to expand and renovate the garden and now is being primarily used to fund other purposes. I am unable to attend the February the March 24th
meeting as I have a board meeting that I must attend. I am president of the sporty. The improvements that were to be made using the funds in this grant are de are designed to make the garden ADA compliant and provide safe and
comfortable environment for West Orange seniors. Not only do gardeners harvest vegetables for their families, but last year we donated 50 pounds of vegetables to the West Orange food pantry to help me families. Bev Riley, one of our
master gardeners, has spoken before the council several times representing our group to share our needs, and we've mostly been ignored. The latest version of what the town plans to provide excludes watering system, the current
garden currently has a system. How do you expect us to grow vegetables without the ability to water our gardens? The grant was also to provide ADA compliant raised beds so that we were able to garden without physical challenges and
apparently the town has decided not to provide the funding for these beds. The grant was also supposed to fund permeable ADA compliant surface such as stone pavers which the current garden has but the latest version we have
insight to provides for artificial plastic turf which is not an acceptable option. I appreciate that there are competing needs for the funds, but since the garden was originally to be the prime beneficiary of the grant and our master gardeners have devoted years of
time and effort bringing this wonderful garden to West Orange senior citizens, I urge you to reconsider how the funds are being allocated and provide us with what we need and deserve. Thank you. So, um I will now ask the administration to talk
about that and parking permits when the budget will be come will be presented to us. And I'd like to ask you to please schedule our executive sessions after public comment as to the extent that we can. We don't want to have our um our
council sitting in the audience because we're paying them, right? So, I think we want to try to maybe as best we can in the future. I know this is a situation where we had no choice and I apologize to the public for that, but maybe we could schedule our council to come right
after public conduct. >> Council President, um it was just an exception tonight. So, to the public, we do apologize, but we just had a conflict with our attorney. Normally, we we do it later in the evening um because we know that because sometimes it's easier to let people um go home while we're in
executive session. So, we always try to put on later. Um, but that it is the discretion of the council to to when they want to enter in when they want. >> Well, I knew this was important. So, I >> But we do and I do appreciate it. I know Mr. Rivera also appreciates your consideration. >> Okay. And the only other thing was legal
to um discuss this the ordinance issue that was brought up about the you know at after Mr. Smealdo I guess. >> Well, I want to ask sorry about Sure. Um, so the first question was about the cannabis revenue for 2025. So we took in
$66,846. Um, it was a combination of Pure Natural Vibes, West Orange Wellness, and Dogwood Green. And then starting in 2026, now we have the library online. Um, so budget will start sending out some some
meetings at the end of the week for hopefully next week so we can sit down with the council and do you know either an individual review or the two two and two type meeting things. Um, so hopefully we can get the council um some information about the budget
before we start holding our our uh um budget review meetings. So, we'll we'll look to send those invites out for the end of the week or hopefully next week for for all of you. >> Thank you. >> You want to address the question about
the ordinances? >> We're talking about the the islands just make sure >> and we need to do further research. I understand >> I apologize to the council and the government. I am not familiar with that to to offer some kind of report or comment. I know it was part of a settlement agreement that was litigation
that was the result of litigation that long predated my firm's involvement. So I'll be happy to educate myself on the matter and report back something substantive. But now anything I say will be pure for sure. >> Understood. Great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay, Mr. Smallo. >> Okay.
>> So figure we'll get the easy ones out of the way. Anybody else go to the bathroom? Be a good opportunity. >> Get down on. >> So I um snakes. >> So I'm going to address the garden first. So, the garden. So, just so we're understood, um I got involved with a
little later on, but this this was a 2020 or 2021 government uh federal government grant that was applied for not as a garden grant, nothing to do with exterior. It had to with exterior garden, but it had to do with exercise equipment. And that's what it was
subsequently awarded with. During that transition, it became realized that that perhaps maybe not all that um exercise equipment was going to be needed and that a shift was made with a request to consider using the Veio garden. And um
when I started getting involved with it last year, we actually did shift it from the seniors department because this was a a recreation type grant. So we had the recreation department get involved, had director Carbalo get involved. Um, and we met and we have met with the the the
gardeners several times in the last year at least six or eight and I apologize if I don't have the exact number but we've met with them. We've included them in a lot of meetings including with um the Neglia architectural firm that came in to or engineering firm I they're
actually the Neglia group and we presented them with some uh designs and they were discussed and they weren't liked and we had them changed. So we did listen to them but the the unfortunate thing what we had to do is we had to call HUD because HUD is the one who is
administer who presented this grant and HUD was clear that this has to include senior physical equipment. Period. >> That's what we applied for. >> That's what we applied for. Any modification to that grant we'd have to
do a change request which we can do. What the issue was at the time when there was a change in administration in Washington, a lot of grants were being recouped back from people who weren't doing. We started moving forward. If we asked for significant change orders that
was other than the outside of what the the the grant was asked for. We were worried and we were advised by HUD that this could we could wind up losing the grant. They told us to stick to what we were primarily um awarded for. We still
worked within the parameters of getting the garden. We listened to the gardeners, but the problem is we have $250,000 or so money that was awarded and there are environmental issues. There's poor drainage. There are safety concerns. There's an active baseball
field that people are hitting fly balls that can come over and hit our seniors in that garden. So those are some of the things that we had to to agree to. What we also said to the gardeners was that we are not opposed to anything they want to put in here, but the the wish list,
the halves and the ha and the wants, which you're famous for saying, the halves are the drainage. The wants are some of the other things. So what we said to them is that why don't they present to the council what they need or what they want, I should say. And what they want is is in in the area of about
$135,000. So, if you want to give them that money, we're going to be more than happy to put all that stuff into uh into the garden. We we would never we never said we would be against it. We just simply don't have the resources or the capital to do so.
You we got the budget season coming up. If we want to include that, we can try to include that with the design. So, we had to go out the design. We had to go out. We we the director Carbalo and Mr. Kio when he was still um um employed by
us and Mr. Johnson who still overseeing the project they had a lot of um uh decisions too to help with making sure one of the things we did do what we were able to do is we were originally awarded I think 80 or $85,000 worth of equipment
for sports equipment. Mr. Johnson was able to pair that down to about $50,000 with equipment so we can allocate some of that money towards some of the things such as what we looked at is raised garden beds. We're looking at beds that are senior accessible. We some of the
things that we've heard here I don't know I I didn't meet everybody was here tonight in these meetings, but we have met them before. Bev Riley is particularly she's she's a staunch advocate and and I applaud her for it. But um but some of the things we just simply realize that it's it may not be
um doable in with the amount of funding we have. So we're not we're not against funding this thing. We want it to be successful. We want people to enjoy it. But there are certain criteria within the the this particular application or
award that we simply cannot change. It's just that's the facts and that's the reality of it. and um you know we we will be amendable to taking more money from the council to make it better. So you know but that's going to be up to you guys to make that decision and we could have those conversations with them
again. And if I'm if I'm missing anything I got the two individuals here I think am I missing anything that we spoke about or is there anything you'd like to add to this conversation? I just want to make sure that you you get a full picture of what our >> grant writers on maybe they can get a
grant. That is a another grant for the garden in particular, you know, >> for seniors. >> So the bid opening is tomorrow for the community garden. So in order to accommodate all the different
I would say ones of the uh gardeners, we actually broke up the bid into a base bid and about five different alternates. on those different alternates. We actually included the shade structures that they said they wanted. Um, we also
included the uh permeable concrete pavers as an option. Um, we also have as part of that we have the installation of the picnic tables and umbrellas that they were asking for. We also um included the benches,
um the LED solar lighting, the water service that they were asking for. Um we also included what else? Let's see. Uh the freestanding um freeze proof water faucet.
Um we also have um the shaded structures that they ask and as well as landscaping improvements and an irrigation system. So we do have all of those included in
the bid. Now I am hopeful that the $250,000 is going to stretch and everybody be able to get everything they want, but we have to be realistic on the amount of the grant. So we have what is called a base bit. The base bit actually
includes the drainage. Um if I recall correctly when we first met with the gardeners and the uh neglia consulting group they actually pointed out as many of the areas where they're currently having ponding >> and they didn't like that. Um the race
planting beds are also part of the base bit. So a lot of their needs are being part of the base bit. Unfortunately, we have to look at this as a whole. We also have to look at their safety in terms of the safety net that needs to be installed between the
garden and the um field. So we'll see what the bids come in tomorrow and how far does the $250,000 stretches. Well, >> I certainly appreciate your effort. you've addressed a lot of the their concerns.
>> So, you know, director, if you don't mind, could you send that list to the council tomorrow so you could see what we we worked on. >> Yes. >> Well, then you could see what we how we broke it down and what what we we identified as the priorities and and so on so forth. We could provide that to you so you could see because there was a
cost estimate with it. So, you could see how much it was and that was broken down. So, if we could send that or you send in the mail, I'll send it out to council. We'll do that. >> Yeah. And maybe we could ask the mayor to put the grant writers on looking for some other type of there's a lot of senior um >> also the grant could do sponsorships. Yes.
>> And I know she hasn't in with the developers. We just got anotherund 100,000. So maybe she could Yeah, I know. Maybe she could talk to somebody else >> who's got an interest in the garden. >> I'll send you tomorrow the proposal pages for the specifications and you
know what the estimates are. >> Thank you so much. Okay. >> I appreciate all your effort. Any other questions about the garden? >> Go on to the parking permits. >> Okay. So, the parking >> we got to get to. >> If I could just ask one question. Uh, >> doesn't the grant have to be executed in
the construction completed by the end of this year, this calendar? No. >> No. The the grant is due by 2029. >> I think it's 2029. >> Yeah. They basically HUD told us they
said as long as we keep reporting that we're moving forward, we're in compliance. So we're we've been in compliance with the regulations. So I believe it's 2029 and and if it came comes down to we could even ask for an extension, but we anticipate getting that done prior to. >> So
>> I'd just like to say something. >> Sure. Go ahead. What was tacked on to this project was brought to the attention of to the to the administration's attention by the gardener them gardeners themselves when they said that there were drainage problems. So suddenly
$30,000 that was intended for the garden is now going to address drainage problems in Degman Park. And that really should have been paid for by some other source not for this not from this money. So then
bond 30,000 for them. >> It was not part of the initial proposal and suddenly it became part of this proposal. So that money could easily have been used to meet the gardener's needs and find the money for the storm
water issue in another in another area. >> So we're clear. The garden was never part of the initial proposal. >> Well, that is not exactly the story that I have heard. >> That is fact and I can get that for you. So, we can debate that back and forth, but I think we want to talk about parking. So, >> yes,
>> and again, I'm going to reiterate, I was there at the inception of this grant. I I actually did the due diligence to get all the community partners' letters of support. So, I you know, Mr. Soraldos uh is is correct in what he's just stated.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> So, parking so statements were said we're not moving forward. That's not true. Um I have actually for handouts too. I'm going to hand out in a moment. We just met last week uh the director uh
dynamic traffic uh myself and I think somebody else. So we met to discuss the parking. We are moving forward. Um what we're doing is we're looking at a proposal that's going to be presented to the council for consideration to help us
with a temporary study to get data. And the reason we're doing that is because if and and this was even prior to this. I'm going to pass this out. Clifton is going through the same exact problem. Clifton rushed into it and
they're having a very bad parking issue. They handed out permits and they're they're actually running into bigger problems they anticipated. They're readressing. We're trying to avoid that. What we're trying to do is is make a presentation to you. the director has been working very hard and very uh long
hours or and time in our staff putting in to put in a proposal with inclusion with the police department and having discussions with them that we're looking to implement something uh this summer to try out. But we don't want to come to the council until we're ready, until our
our vendor has provided us some backup because we have to check some um regulations and things with DOT and a few others to make sure that we're in compliance with all applicable state laws and um and statutes and things of that nature. So um and I'm not
going to get into the details of it right now because it's just going to cause more people to u have some uh discussions. We intend to make sure we're going to do a presentation prior to submitting to the council for consideration because it's going to need your legislative will to go through with
this or not. And if you choose not to, that's fine. But we're making a presentation on it. And we anticipate to have this presentation done in the next several weeks, 3, four weeks or so. Um, director, that correct? By by no later than maybe the May meeting so we can
make this pres presentation because we have some ideas and thoughts. um and and uh and utilizing the data that we have been receiving from from the neighbors in those in that particular neighborhood which is in the valley. So u to say that we're not it's that that's not an
accurate statement. We are we are working at it. Um the councilwoman mentioned and I've said it before, we move at the speed of government. So we have to we want to get everything right for presentation to you so that this way um you will consider it and and if you agree with us, we'll implement it. If
you don't agree with it, then we're going to have to figure out a different way. But I just wanted to point out I don't want what's happening to Clifton to happen to us. I don't want to put our energies and direct it in there and then people become more frustrated because we didn't we just didn't arbitrarily go uh just put something out there to say. One
of the things I will tell you we got out of the meeting is that we definitely have more vehicles than we have uh spherical and that's without a signing. I believe it's 490 parking spots in the alphabet streets and we anticipate there's over
based on the data we've received not not all cars. We have over 600 cars that want to get a permit. We simply do not have the parking permits or the spaces for the for all the permits that have been requested, not including the ones that haven't been requested. >> We have one per household.
>> Well, that's what one of the things that's what we're that's part of what we're addressing is how we're going to to address that with the because it's not about a household because in each household there's separate units. So, how do we address that? These are questions that we've been asking. These are what we've been asking our experts, our engineers, and you know, the traffic
engineers and such. So, um, and and including our police department. So, we're working on it. I I I know it it sounds like a broken record, but what sometimes you don't always see the foundation of a building, but it's always holding everything up. But, you know, we're trying to build a strong foundation. That's what we're trying to do.
>> Interesting. So, um, so if you have any questions or commentary, if you want to speak to me all on the side, we can we can speak to that later, but I really just would not rather go into the actual plan until we have I think we're meeting in another week or so with our our traffic engineers. We have meetings set
up. We we're we're meeting with them. So, >> I have one quick question. How would you address um Miss Bernett's concern with the electronic system that there's no indication of who's there and whether they should be? Well, the the electronics is if if we're going to use
a system where our officers could go down the street, the officers are going to catch it anyway because with their um um what's the the term? What's the >> Yeah, the LPRs. The LPRs. the LPRs go down the street, boom, it picks it up and it they know they'll know better
than what's going on if it the other thing I want to caution people about if they start calling on one another, which is not nothing wrong with that, but it sometimes can cause into neighborly battles. Let our law enforcement officers do their job. They go down the street, they their LPR goes off, there's
a a car that's not proper, boom, gets receives a summon. no harm, no foul on on the reporting person or anybody else, you know, because we want to try and keep everybody safe as well. So, I think that's a an important component of keeping the neighborhood safe and and
people not getting anxious over because we we want we want to if we're going to put the time and energy into into this program, we want it to be successful. We don't want it to be we want to be in the paper for something else besides this. >> So, so >> did I did >> Yes. I'd like I'd like to I'd like to
ask the administration if you went through such a lengthy um process of a study study after study um for 10 years when the residents who live above Rollinsson asked for permit parking. >> So, Councilwoman, I can't speak to 10
years ago. I wasn't involved with this 10 years ago. I'm involved with this now. That's what I'm involved with and that's what we're working on. That's all I could say. Since I've been on the council, some other areas have gotten permit parking parking and I don't see that there were long drawn out >> stat may have been individual park
permits issued like for um for handicap and things of that nature, but I don't believe that there was designated streets that have been um given a director. There's there's no been streets that have been given that right? >> No. >> No. >> So I don't believe so. So, I I don't I
don't know um of any streets that have been, but you know, like I said, we're we're doing this as a pilot to see if we can to be make it more successful around the town. That's what we're doing. >> Council me. >> Yeah, I think this is a very more complicated much more complicated area.
the other streets that receive permits which wasn't during my tenure was many years ago and they you know there was a lot more spaces per household in front of that. So again it's a system that
that pushed uh parking down. I to me again I said it I said it a while ago. You want to get rid of this immediately for those residents is to remove the parking uh permits for from the whole entire area and that whole area will
have more parking open up to everybody but nobody wants to go that route. So I think they have to get it right and um you know council president. >> Yes. That's it. >> There's a very easy way to get this right. require that all of the Satan
Hall students not park on our streets. It's very easy and you can do that by identifying who actually lives in the neighborhood and giving them permit parking and that can be your trial instead of waiting until sometime in the
summer when the school will be out and they will not see see the impact of the students parking there. right now they should have permits right now and if they had permits the seat and hall students would not be parking on their
streets and they would not have this problem. The end there has to be the will to do that not just an elongated study. >> So councilwoman um I what I would say to you as far as Satan Hall we cannot prevent them. That's a public street.
You cannot tell somebody not to park on a street. You cannot simply do that. That's against the law. That's why we're dealing with the DOT. So, what we're looking at is a program that's going to be a pilot program for several months. It doesn't just include the summer. We're working on something. I promise
you that we will present it to you, but we just can't tell somebody they can arbitrarily can't park on a street when that's we're looking into DOT regulations and it may not be permitted. And we don't have the final answer on that, but that's one of the questions we have. um if you drive on a street, it's
a publicly it's a a road that's paid for by taxpayers. You can't tell a taxpayer they can't park there. And that's and that may be anywhere. So, we're looking into that to make to confirm that. I can't I can't say for certain that that's an actual regulation, but that's one of the things we're looking into because we want to make sure that we're
not violating somebody's rights to park on a street. So, >> can we get a legal opinion? Council >> President, we're going through the DO. >> No, Council President, I'd like to say something. >> Go ahead. We absolutely mandate that the Satan Hall students cannot park in all of the
streets above Rollinsson. All of the streets, they are not allowed to park there. That's why the influx has happened to the area below Rollinsson. All of those alphabet city um streets are flooded with Satan Hall students
because West Orange has already said that they cannot park above there. That's why this has happened. >> So it change it. >> Exactly. Exactly. Make sure that they have permit parking in the areas below Rollinsson and the and that only
residents can park there and the seat and hall students will not be allowed to park there just as they are not allowed to park in the other streets. >> Council, we're we're addressing the issue in our proposal >> 10 years. >> Well, as I said to you, I wasn't doing it 10 years ago. I've been involved with it for the last nine 10 months and we're
moving forward. Okay, I'm putting a proposal together. We're putting it for and it's addressing that. So, I'm sorry that's taken so long for the residents and I really do I appreciate the what they're they're going through. I you know I I know about that with the parking. Um we are we are working
diligently to try to improve the quality of life for them in that neighborhood. And our team has been working on it like I said for the last nine or 10 months. I don't recall seeing how many times we've brought in study teams and and I got our engineers and everybody else. We're
working on it. That's all I could I I can promise you we're not forgetting about it. So, >> can we please we got the downtown? Sure. Give their >> budget. Unless you have any other questions. >> No, I'm okay. Uh maybe we can have Megan come on up and give her report. Um we
can take any um let's let her do her reports around a little bit. Ashley, before we get to the presentation, I just really want to thank you all for your appointments to our board. Um, they are amazing. We have
such a great team and it makes coming to work every day. Me and Amy get to hang out with them even in our spare time. Um, I also I thank you all and I thank you all for hanging in with us uh tonight. Um, Amy, thank you so much for the gra.
She uh loves playing around in Canva. >> Good. The other one. >> Okay, >> so this slide deck was emailed to you all. Um, I made some copies, but I didn't make I didn't want to, you know, make a lot of paper. We're trying to go
uh wireless uh paperless, but if some of you that don't have the presentation on your computer want to take a copy, I just didn't want to blow a print of cartridge >> and paper. >> Um okay,
>> so good. >> Let's get right into it. Okay, I'm Megan Brill, executive director with the Downtown Alliance. Um one of the things that I just want to make sure I go the hour, right? Yeah, >> I haven't done this here in a while. >> Oh, excuse me. Uh, I'm sorry, uh, Miss
Bril, but can you please wait for my colleague to come back because she had peppered you with a lot of questions and I want to make sure that she's here for when you make your comments. Thanks. Let me check my notes. >> I don't want you have to repeat things twice.
>> We also the the presentation is on the downtown website and we can send it to the the township to link to Yeah, thank you. Sorry. Sorry about that. >> Yeah, yes, >> we put it in a flipping book,
>> which is um if you did the trolley ride, it's like a little book that you hit the little tab and it just moves. It's kind of neat neat technology. So, that's what's on the website for the public. >> Are we paused? Are we paused now?
>> Yes. I'm on if you need to run. >> Nothing personal. We may not be no if she comes. We don't need a breach if she comes back with it because they do whatever they want. So it doesn't matter. discussion. He's at that age.
>> Mr. Bon was us. Are we still live and live from New York? >> We should do a >> funny not wait now. Now we're missing council manoviac. So
if you could just be so kind as to keep waiting, Miss Bro. >> Mandarin. >> I love it. >> I love mandarin orange. >> I drink the soda. >> Yeah.
>> That's part of our mural that's in that picture in case you didn't see it. Yeah, we had she had a resident do that. >> Yeah, I love the woman costume. >> It was uh Lynette Shear's daughter, Monae.
>> Yeah. And it was a blind pick. I was the only one that knew um who the artists were. The team picked uh the top three and she was uh in the top three of everyone's and and the number one. She understood the assignment perfectly. She actually has a new mural in terminal
A at North airport. >> Beautiful mural. >> Okay, cool. >> A talented girl. >> Let's get going. >> Okay. Oh, >> Ben, your gavl. >> Okay, we're going to get started. >> Okay. >> All right.
So, one of one of the biggest things that came out of last year moving into this year is our transformation strategies. We had two meetings with National Main Street and we did a focus group for residents over two days and residents
and business owners. We had 600 people fill out a survey and the cost of that entire exercise if we had to pay for it was $30,000. So, we were able to come up with after the surveys and focus groups and
everyone getting together, uh, we came up with two strategies. Thrive local West Orange and illuminate West Orange. Um, Thrive Thrive F Thrive Local focuses on small business growth and retainment and tools and tricks of the trade that
we can uh give to them and teach them how to uh be better store owners and more productive. Illuminate West Orange is was funny because when we were trying to think of our tagline, we never came across illuminate with Edison's light bulb, but National Main Street kind of
found out about that and uh and they they made our second strategy illuminate. So that's focus on district cohesion and beautifification. One of the things that came out of the focus group was how disconnected downtown is.
And people that aren't familiar with the four sections get get lost. They don't know if they're in one section or the next section. So the cohesion part is um was brought out of the the exact um focus groups that we did as well as um
beautifification. We knew going into this year with the trans strategy graph grant that we got last year that we were going to do planters and better garbage cans and we were able to do that coming into you know this year. Um can you hear
me? Okay, we're good. Um we con we concentrate on four areas development events placemaking and business support. We have four really exciting projects that are that are coming up. 80 Main
Street renovations got through you guys and will be at the planning board soon. Um what's great about the 80 million project is there's no tax break. There's no housing that is included with it. It's all commercial and um and he should
be able to get that through the planning board and start going and improve that building that really is like 70s structure and really not set for the kind of businesses that we're hoping to recruit there. The second project is the
former Walgreens project. It's um going to be a grocery store. It's taking up the uh Walgreens property and the Americana Diner property. It's going to be a 13,000 square foot grocery store. Two-LE grocery store. 13,000 on the
bottom, 5,000 on the top. And um and he's doesn't need a park. He needs like one parking variance. Um so he's really laid out the project well. I asked him what his investment was. It's a 3 million plus investment in our downtown. um and he should be going to the
planning board in the next couple of months. The other project was a project that's been hanging around Llewellyn Hotel. I guess that's like Llewellyn Hotel that originally got approved through zoning like five or six years ago and it was 11 apartments. He's
changing the plan to only have six apartments and make them a little bit bigger. He already has the parking requirement that he needs. They're doing parking along the back and the side. And if you remember from last year, this was on our slide because he hasn't done anything with it yet. The second part,
he's gonna level off the building. So, this is he owns this whole strip. Uh Dan Garcia, great landlord, owns a bunch of property downtown. So, they're going to add to the top of this and square this all off and put 11 uh units in there and two uh commercial
spots on the bottom floor. The other project. Oh, the other project is Oops, Joe. What happened? >> You're in control. >> There we go. Okay, I'm blaming Joe. Um, okay. So, 14 Northfield is when you come
right off of 280. This is like the first, you know, thing that you see. It is a beautiful historic building and it's going to have 12 apartments in it. And they're putting parking on the back side of that building. Um they're digging out the bottom the bottom in the
back to allow for like head in parking which uh definitely helped them with their parking variance. So we're really hoping that that project gets um underway in the next couple of months. So already through planning they just need to put shovel in the ground and the structure saying they're
outfitting that whole building. It's saying it's the Brownberg building Macintosh building. >> Macintosh >> Macintosh building. Okay. So, some of the big things that we did in 2025 was David Cassidy. I know you guys are probably tired of hearing us talk about
David Cassidy, but we did have like a big economic couple of days with David. We also met with the ladies came back to town last week and uh like just a few of them and we went out to dinner with them and they spent all day downtown.
We also have a a lady from Poland who couldn't make the big event and she's coming in the middle of April. So, we're going to do a little dog and pony show with her, show her, you know, all the David Cassidy stuff. So, they, if you follow the page on Facebook, they care
about West Orange like nobody's business. When we had that big snowstorm, they were like, "Oh my god, is Orange okay?" Uh, from their sunny houses in Florida. Um, so that's David Cassidy. We're going to continue to uh support them and that marker in any way
that we can. Restaurant week, we already talked about that. Um our street fair is um you know biggest event that that we do it uh we had way more vendors than um than past years. The rain hiccuped us a little bit um and we bought new software
last year. We actually had um the fire department made a request very late in the day on Friday and I had to move like 40 booths around and they were all in the street till like 11:00 remarking the street. But if we didn't have the
software, we would have been in so much trouble. Um but we have the software and we have the software going into this year and it really is helpful. It's called uh Event. Um and we have our holiday openhouse. the holiday open house. While it's an event, it really is
community centered. The folks at Washington School just love having us there. Between the cafeteria, the parking lot, and the gym, we're really able to hit lots of different things all day. And our partnership with Benji's Max Grill over here in St. Marks just
makes the pictures that they take beautiful. Mauricio buys a new backdrop every year and they just get prettier and prettier each time. So, and we appreciate the guide to Charlie tours. People go on them all the time. Um, and they love it and they come back each
year. It's the same tour. It's same script. Um, but they love it. Okay. Going into 2026. All right. Again, the focus group and our transformation strategies came up with um a couple of things. Darren and
one of our a couple of our board members have wanted us to bring back the farmers market which is just getting a farmer and competing with Montlair and South Orange is is a real stream and Rob and Stacy Reese were rock stars and they
couldn't they couldn't pull it off and it takes a lot of work and we don't have a lot of time to dedicate you know a whole day to farmers market but when we did the focus group with the business owners ers they were and the and residents a lot of them residents and
business owners they were talking about a cool vibe thing downtown that like we're missing like this fun thing to do. So we Amy and I ran into this mega events guy and um and he for he does
farmers markets and 5ks and we brainstormed with him and we're turning four of our downtown Thursdays into this mini market. Um the first one is May 7th and it's dog related. We're going to raise money for the dog shelter and um
and we're in partnership on um with the museum and on Alden Street. So we don't have to block any any streets. We don't we don't need a whole lot of resources because it's pretty locked down. We also have the benefit of the CVS property owner who's amazing with us and allows
us to use that for parking. So that's uh downtown Thursdays. Then we have World Cup. There's a grant out there to get some money in the door um to help us support uh World Cup. We're trying to figure out, you know, the state just keeps saying they got it. We don't know
how to get it. Um but we're trying. We're hoping to be able to partner um with all of the restaurants. We have actually we should had a slide of the our website. We have a dedicated page on our website to World Cup. There's going to be a calendar on there. Anybody
that's doing anything can hit can log in, put a put an event on that calendar, and then any resident, they're already getting filled up in our hotels. People come into the area that we want them to go to our app, go to our website and see
what's going on in town. So, that's one thing. The second thing is there's this Skyline to shoreline bus that has all the players on it. We asked them if we could have the bus for street fair. Street Fair is one week before the first game. Um, so we're really hoping that
they see that as an advantage. We're kind of close to there. Um, and everything that happened with FanFest and Jersey City, we're hoping that they uh let us have the the bus and we get to players all day, which is kind of cool. And we also have Rev 250 with um our
town fire um and uh and all things. We're showcasing definitely the Edison labs and um and trivia in in our bars and restaurants. Joe has always said that, you know, Washington didn't do anything really specific here, but we
still have Tory Corner. We still have like lots of fun stuff that we can do well for the people that are here uh celebrating Rev 250. So, we're putting together uh a bunch of events and that'll be not one specific location is going to be out at all the businesses.
So, whoever's doing what for Rev 250. Um okay. Second initiative is placemaking. Um with the grant that we got last year, we did 18 different projects. A lot of them were like small little facade uh spruce
ups, but there were a lot of major projects. We bought 24 Earthwell planters. The Earthwell planters have a reservoir underneath that collects the water and selfwaterers it. So, we have less public work support to deal with
those. We add we're gonna add 24 and we're going to keep them kind of centrally located so the guys that water know to like they don't have to water that every other day. So we thought that that was a good improvement. We gave $17,700
in facade grants to it was like over 10 businesses got you know like one or $2,000 in matching grants. One of the really big things, if you um know the store over here by the uh the old uh Main Street uh hardware store, they had
a panel door on the store next door and drove me crazy this panel door. It's like that kind of door on store and um and the new owner came in and the new shop owner uh SpaTacular was like, "I hate this door." And I was like, "I agree with you. I hate this door." and
we replaced the door and she got she got paid half of it through that through that grant. Um she's very excited. She's a West Orange resident, too. Okay. Then we did the landscaping on the Quigley lot at like $13,000 local local guy
downtown uh business owner that did the improvement for us. We picked that lot because it's a gateway into our downtown. you come in from, you know, Montlair, you come down the hill and we wanted Quigley to look bright and happy and and it does. Now, we actually um
what happens with a lot of landscaping and and our in our beds, we salt all the sidewalks and then it kills everything that's you know on there. So, we added a band of of rocks to it so that there's no there's no plants to kill there. So,
it stays everything um very healthy. We also bought I had to put 10 in there. So, we wanted to buy big belly garbage cans and it took a while to get the whole project off the ground. There were tariff issues and um the health department didn't want us to lock them.
We wanted to lock them, but the end of the day, we're getting 10. They should be delivered any time now. But 10 garbage cans is $17,463. Our other garbage cans are about a thousand. So the big bellies are about $700 more. Um but the capa capacity is
good and um and we kind of need them in areas where we know people are dumping household garbage and so uh you can't like dump a whole bag in there. Um we also did uh corridor landscaping uh throughout different areas like smaller
areas and our litter patrol. We pay Dan to pick up you know litter in the entire corridor. um and he does a great job. So, that's in there. And again, our holiday decorations, which is just a lot of money, even when we try to renegotiate the um the amount
with the contractor. Um but we spent $18,000 on snowflakes and seasonal banners for a couple of months, like three months. Um so that is our placemaking initiatives. Then we have business support. This
again came out of the transformation strategies. The the one really cool thing that happened when we brought the business owners in they right they like loved hanging out with each other. They loved talking to each other. They they
were bouncing ideas off of them. Something like really cool happened when they got out of their stores and into uh at you know into a different space. And one of the things that they ca that they really wanted was uh a cool vibe thing
and um and they were all for the Alden Street downtown Thursday, you know, shift. Um we also instituted a monthly business meetup on Zoom. It's hard, you know, we're out in in stores all the time, but it's hard to uh to hit
everyone. So, we wanted to uh be able to reach people, tell them about World Cup, tell them about Rev 250, give them, you know, opportunities for street fair and downtown Thursdays, and this way we can hit more than just one person in an hour. Um, and that that
seems to be a great idea. Business and property owners are invited. Um, we have a new marketing grant. Um, it we're calling it the micro grant. It's um this is interesting because what what we're trying to do is teach businesses how to
brand themselves better. A lot of them don't have a logo and they're not good on social media. So this mini grant will be a matching grant. They pay half, we pay half. Um it's up to $1,000. There's different, you know, ranges. But what it
also is going to do is teach them how to do this after the person leaves the room. Um they're also going to have uh part of our economic development numbers is um best practice leaders coming in to
train our our you know storefront mastery. Uh what is your your menu should look better you know those kinds of resources and uh and that budget line is going to going to pick up is going to get picked up with that. The last thing is we have a resource guide but it's it
was kind of all over the place. We have this over here and that over there. So, we're creating a one-stop resource where everything that the business owner needs to know is going to be in one spot and um and we're probably going to print material in um in in various languages
to uh to accommodate our our business uh inventory. Um okay. All right. So, our social media we um our Facebook, you know, is up 173%.
Thank you, Amy G. Amy McCellbell. Um, the last year we up we like tripled our Instagram number. So, Instagram is only up by by 100%. But last year was a huge bump and we're launching Tik Tok um any
day now. So, uh we're getting in the Tik Tok game and we're going to hopefully train, you know, some people on how to Tik Tok better. Um, okay. Our app, I forget when I told you or if I told you that the app was starting to be uh not
supported by our old company. So, we um we had no choice but to get rid of it. And when I told the board about that, they were they asked a bunch of questions and uh we were surprised that there's like 21,000
views, 21,000 users in like a eight a 10-month period. which I was surprised with. And 95% of them are Apple users. So, us Android people have to like up our game a little bit. Um, but we able we were
able to find Pineborn Media to build us a new app and that's just one of the the front pages. So, we're hoping to launch this this spring. And what's good about it, the the town resources that were on the old app were definitely a popular item. So, we're going to be able to add
links to important town stuff that people care about in in the app and uh and downtown pay for all of that. Okay. Our tourism grant. This is a little bit confusing because it's not money that is in our budget. It's money
that the town received. I think they should have received like half of it already. Um, but we filled out the form uh filled out the grant with um Millennium Strategies and and we we got $18,000. So, we talked about it's a
tourism grant. So, we wanted to, you know, celebrate our outdoor space, talk about our historic sites, create um more buzz for our Turtleback Zoo and parks and um and leisure activities, so hiking
and outdoor recreation. um all the videos that are going to get made is it it was a digital grant so it's it it's not like a print media so it's going to be digital and uh so videos and short clips were going to be distributed through
downtown and the township uh social media accounts these are our collaborations this is where we spend you know a lot of our time at all these different meetings um you know we we attend anybody anybody that wants us we go wherever we need to go. This is where
we go constantly every month. Um and the asterisks are the ones that um are by ordinance that a member of the downtown alliance needs to sit on. Okay. Our budget um we have our city assessments is up a little bit to 150.
The township contributions 6789. 67 809. Um in 28,000 incine is like an in and out. So, it's stayed the same over the years, but it just comes in the top of the budget and it comes out in the bottom of the budget. Funds carried
forward with 5,000. We have two two fundraisers that we're hoping we'll make $5,000. It could be that the fall winter event becomes one event. Uh we're still trying to like work out the details on that. We have actually uh fundraising
20,000 built into this budget. Last year there was 30,000 and it was tough to hit that mark. Um so we reduced that down to 20 thinking that um with the the change in downtown Thursdays we'll be able to
uh you know hit 20. Uh and our transformation strategy grant is actually money that the state of New Jersey gave us. It's in our bank account $72,000 and our interest income is 300. Okay. our expenses. Um, uh, office
operations, that's like salary and, um, all all kinds of stuff like that. Salary bookkeeping um, paper, like things that we have to buy to support the office. Um, payroll. So, that is up a little bit to 1145.
In kind, again, is 28, just comes out. Economic development is $4,000. Um, we kept this at four even though we didn't spend a lot last year, but this again was driven back by the transformation strategy grant that the business owners
really need help and we need a line item to be able to pull from to get the store mastery guy in there, to get the food photographer in there, to get the business coach in there. Um, and that 4,000 is going to be used in that area up there. insurance and professional
services is just dumb because we have to pay for an audit that costs a ton of money. And we did search around to try to find a cheaper guy. Anybody that was cheaper was not available. Not taking any new clients. So our our audit cost
like 125 this year. Um I didn't get the contract yet from Buterson, so it might go up a little bit. And then uh workers comp went up a little and our DNO went up a little. Um marketing and promote marketing and promotions is um 75,000.
It's up about 8,000 and that covers a whole host of stuff that we did that we talked about already. Organizations 6600. That is really the the backbones of our organization. the things that we um we need to do to to work with other
organizations and to keep our um to keep our relationships with within our board and the outer community. Uh visual improvements. This is the big the big bump and this is the transformation strategy. One of the things that we said
early on in the presentation that we um we care about beautifification. We care about the way things look and um and a large part of that visual improvement is going to go towards maybe new garbage cans, uh probably new planters. The thing about adding more planters is then
we need more flowers and then we need more watering and um and so it's kind of a little trickle effect. So we need to be careful with what else we add. It could be that we swap out some of the bigger older planters and just put a new uh better planter in its place to not
really add, you know, 50 more planters to Main Street. So that's still uh in the works. Um so our total total budget total expenses were at 320 298. >> Yes. >> Uh over on the right side there's three
of the bars that are ended with green sections. Is there any significance to that? Yeah, that was that shows it's just a visual to show the increase. So it >> Oh, that's the increase from >> Yeah, that's the increase. Okay, >> I'm sorry that wasn't clear.
>> Oh, I don't know what that is. Okay, that's our presentation. >> Thank you very >> Thank you. Thank you. And thank you for all your service today. >> So, are there any question? >> I just have a quick question. Um,
according to our ordinance, this presentation is supposed to be September 1st, no later than September 1st, and every I've only been here a year, but it hasn't been. >> Okay. Is there a reason why not? >> So, I did send a note to Mr. Samaro about that. And the the what I what I
know about this, and it's not much, and and I actually forgot, and Samo didn't get back to me, but the state ordinance says that the SIDS are supposed to present in September. The problem with us and I don't know any town that none of the numbers are ready until January
and as it is stuff isn't getting certified until April. So we build our budget in like November based on best estimates at a Shane's office to give us what we think our values are. So based on the assessed values then that's how
we get our sit assessment and then we can build our budget. So things there's and and as as long as I've been paying attention, I've been here 13 years and 10 before that and promo chair, we've never presented. We've always presented in December and January. You guys mess me up in December because you only have
one meeting. So I if I do a notice in November, it's probably it's hardly never never ready to go in your meeting your one meeting in December. So that's why we're in January. Um, this year was a a hiccup partially because there was a
flood in my office and um and it made working down there really really difficult. Um, and our numbers were late. But we should ask Mr. SM to like find out what what that difference is and and fix it if if there's something that
needs to be changed. But we can't get numbers until January. Hit me, Joe. >> Uh, illuminate West Orange. I just want to make sure I understand what phased uh district cohesion is. You you I think
you mentioned that people were cons were uh a little confused because they go to different districts within I guess the downtown. Uh maybe you could talk to me a little bit about what that issue is and how you're trying to fix it, please. Right. So, it the the conversation came
up when um we were talking about banners and branding. Um everybody really likes the idea of the four districts because you kind of know, you know, you're in St. Marks and we used to have a lot of green banners in St. Marks. Now, we have hero banners everywhere. So, the
identity is is not really there. So, we talked about uh making the plants that are in St. Marks different than the plants in Eagle Rock and pulling up. We have the four colors. Eagle Rock is black, Tory Corner is maroon, St. Marks is green, and the
valley is white. So you can tell you're in the valley. We don't have a lot of heroes down there. So you know you're in the valley because valley signs all over the place. So we are looking at different ways that we can try to tie that this is all the downtown alliance, but there's a little bit of separate sections. That's the cohesion part.
>> And what are you doing to to do this? And and also what what is the problem with people not knowing what section of town they're in? >> I think that they said maybe you guys can remember more specifically. I think that they um they didn't they didn't
know that they were downtown or they didn't know that um not that they didn't know, it's that they weren't proud of the area that they were in like that. I'm in I'm in Eagle Rock and uh the Eagle Rock guys because there's still a lot of Eagle Rock banners over
there. Um so that that's kind of the way it went. We want to because the corridor is so long, we have to chop it up to manage it. Like, you know, we're in in our business meetings, we really need to have like all Eagle Rock guys get together or all the hair salons get
together or all the restaurants get together and um and dividing the corridor up like that definitely helps us manage it better and well. >> Okay. So, uh, I wanted to ask a little bit more about the Downtown Thursdays or
the Downtown Thursday markets. You've hired this Megabyte Events and I just basically it looks like you're going to spend about $9,000 with them. >> Two. >> Okay. >> Yeah, only two. Their fee is two >> in the budget. It's a little under 9,000 but
>> um I could be that. Well, Downtown Thursdays overall might be nine. >> Okay. And but the the the contractor, the vendor, we're paying him $5 an event. $500 an event. $5.
>> Okay. And so what is their role and what are they going to be doing differently from uh what you guys have been doing? >> Right. So, normally downtown Thursdays have been one or two food trucks, uh, a musical or, you know, entertainment and
and an, um, and tables and chairs and that that's it. So, we're celebrating. We did dog days last year and it was it was really successful. We did, you know, the characters band and he was really really fun. So, what's going to happen in the market on Alden Street is we're
going to have like 20 vendors. It's going to be like a little mini street fair. Um, we're going to have a food truck, at least one food truck, and um, and he's hoping to get like 200 people. Our best day was we have like 50 people at a downtown Thursday. Granted, I think
it rains every Thursday for the last like five years. Um, but but so that that it'll be vendors that you see in a farmers market. Oh, >> a lot of things. >> You got to come up. You got to come up. the Darren's very excited about downtown
Thursdays. >> The thing is the the reason you're using Megabytes because he's an event planner. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> You got you got to get on the record. >> All right. >> The Zoom audience wants to see >> the Zoom audience. Okay. Great.
>> And introduce your and and introduce yourself please. >> We can hear you. >> So, uh, as a Yeah. Darren Nurse, part of Downtown Alliance. So the reason that you're using megabytes, what you got to keep in mind is this. He's an event planner. So because that's his specific detail, he has a bigger reach of an
audience than what we have. So he's able to get it out to different people to bring in that that income that we're looking to bring in for the town. And you got to you also got to keep in mind because he's doing it at such a great discount because they usually come at a a broader price than what he's doing
that he's able to get us the people that we're going to get in. So we have to take advantage of what he's able to perform for us now because if this thing grows as is it as it is expected to right we're not going to be able to pay for that before. So what you have to
fold in is you can't operate um you can't operate a downtown the size of this manner on a small budget because it just does not become feasible because now you're losing everything. And the thing about the identifying is because it makes other businesses feel comfortable just knowing what part of
the downtown that they're part of. So when they speak to their clients, they can say their clients, listen, I'm in the St. Mark section. And they be able to identify that with their clients as well. >> Thank you. >> And Ashley, that that's a great point about the the vendor reach. We already started locking in uh dog related
vendors and uh and they were different. There was one overlap from Street Fair, but they um there's a bunch of other vendors that are coming from South Jersey and and North Jersey. Um so we're kind of excited about that and I'm hoping to get knife sharpening guy. Um
so it'll be like a farmers market style thing. >> How about metrics? Are you guys does does Megabyte track metrics and data? >> Yeah, he's um you should follow him on on Facebook. So his um his track record
uh he does a big event in Hackett Town. So we um we didn't buy Placer this year, but we're getting Placer data through National Main Street, so we'll still be able to tell like who's going where and what they're doing. Um so we can tell. Um but he th this guy is a really
popular uh vendor and I think that he's there's two other street fair guys and he's nipping at their heels. Um so yeah, we we should be able to hopefully see just the numbers of folks coming in. Um
he's also does videos for um about about our downtown Thursday and then he's going to um push out his social media. If you follow him now, you'll see that we're doing pretty good on our own. Add me events in there. He um you know, we
should we should be able to capitalize on that. Do you have any sort of data on on that justifies spending $100,000 on visual improvement? >> Well, so part of part of what we need to do is make sure that downtown is safe
and clean and that is all part of that. The other big chunk is the the facade grant. So that's money that goes directly back to our business owners. So, when we say you have a really ugly front door, I try to say it a little bit nicer than that, but you know, we we
want you to change your sign or we want you to make a sideways sign or you know, your menu is too dark or the pictures on your website. Oh, Seth's coming. Uh, the pictures on your on your website don't do justice to your food. Um, so that all
those visual things when we go in and say, "Could you change this?" We use that money to be able to support that. And then we definitely want, you know, all of the planters to look good. We want, uh, garbage cans is a big part of that, too. Um, Big Belly is the way to
go. Monontlair just had a big article about it. Um, they it's easier on Monontlair because they don't have private, they have their own guys picking up garbage. It we have we're using Rosselli, so it's a little bit different for us. So, it's we're just taking it slow, but it is the future of
where to go. where >> ju just to make some comments. Seth Weissletter, a board member of the Downtown West Orange Alliance. So, the Mega Events Group also has something to prove for their own business to get more business. Um, and with a very small
staff, they're creating a lot of efficiencies. So our staff, Meg and Amy and our board members can spend other time on some of these other efforts like educating our business owners, focusing
on other things. Doing these little events and all the details that Meg and Amy put into it take up so much considered time. I mean, I'm planning I won't say it in public, but I'm planning an event for my wife, but all the little details. She knows about it, but all the
little details, it's a lot of time and energy and and work. And when you're completely focused on a downtown Thursday for the results that we're getting, not that they haven't been good, they've been okay, but it's a lot of, you know, time versus reward. So,
this is going to bring us biggest reward, bigger reward, a much higher level uh event, and it's going to allow our staff to focus on other things. As far as visual improvements, it's very slow with a very small budget, a couple
garbage cans, a couple new planters. The the the studies that we've seen over and over again, people do not think West Orange is safe and approachable. So we have to start somewhere start making some of these changes and the changes we make might not be bold enough to do what
we are envisioning because we can't do it at once unless you want to give us double our budget which would be very appreciative but it's little by little by little but also thinking of things you know it might not be it might be replacing the old planters because we're
saving efficiencies on char on public works time so you can have that budget to do other things with it. So there's a lot of things that come into play and our board members, we are very specific looking at trash cans, questioning these vendors, looking at their Facebook pages, seeing what they're doing. So
that's where we are. >> One other thing that um that the visual design we're we're very conscious that Target is here at the top of Eagle Rock Avenue and we know that people are everyone's going to go to Target. There's going to be a ton more
people going to Target. We definitely want signage up there that says, "Hey, you need to like come downtown and point downtown." We also need for our business owners to be aware that there all the 14 out buildings around Target are what is
what's really going to impact us. There's going to be a nail salon there. There's going to be a hair salon. There's going to be, you know, a restaurant. There's going to be lots of stuff that you can just stay at Target Plaza and not come downtown at all. Um, so part of our placemaking and signage
visual design is to create uh a parking campaign, a like come downtown campaign uh that'll get eaten up in that to to offset, you know, impact target impact. >> Just just moving on, uh the the sit assessment, uh you budgeted for $135,000
last year, you brought in a little over 130,000 and then this year you bumped it up to 150,000, >> right? What's sort of the thinking behind that? In >> in part, it's the township property that we don't get $5,800 from any
>> 55 main I mean 55 Lakeside >> 55 Lakeside. Yeah. Um we used to we used to be made whole and now we don't. So John doesn't collect it so it doesn't get sent into us. So that 5,800 is
there. It's also we have not raised any we haven't raised that assessment in in a while. Um, and costs are going up. Like Christmas decorations are a lot. Me and Amy got a small 3% raise that's included in that. Um, so that we we
thought that it would be a a a decent jump, a jump, and actually we talked to there's four property owners that pay the the heavy SID levy and we talked to them and we got them on board. Um, and and they were okay. Prism is like one of
the bigger like the biggest uh guy and Brian man at uh Josh man at 80 main. So they they see the work that we're doing and the increase isn't when you spread it out isn't isn't huge. Um and I you
you know me I I don't like to spend other people's money. Um but we really need to be able to do what we need to do to have the impact out there to to help our business owners. We're the only ones that are economic driving and we we need the budget to be able to do that. >> Yeah. >> So So
>> So go ahead. >> So So what did you do from the actual 130,661 last year to 150,000 projected? That's like a 15% increase. Do you >> It went It was supposed to be 135 and we
actually got short 13 for we're still trying to figure out where that other $5,000 is. So it really was 135. So, it was only a $15,000 job. >> It was supposed to be 135, but it actually came in less, >> right? But it came in came on,
>> but but you're going from 13061 to $150,000. That's a 15% increase. And I'm just trying to just trying to understand Did you raise Did you raise the >> Right. Well, I think I I probably said it really well in my budget narrative, but the the two driving forces are
rising costs on everything. We've not increased that number in a very long time. And the 5,000 or the $6,000 we don't get out of Lakeside. >> Okay. So, just pardon my ignorance. I'll just ask one more question then we'll move on.
>> Did you raise the uh the the uh the not the fee but the rate? >> The rate >> for the SID. That's what you did. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yes. To equate to and actually it's a little bit less than 150. Um there was a a change in a value that reduced it. So
it's about it's going to be it'll be the actual will be like 149. >> Okay. Uh retention I think is a is a really big deal uh for the alliance and it looks like you maybe I misunderstand for retention you've got $4,000 but can
you tell me what else they're doing that's over and above the 4,000 because I think retention is really important. We get a lot of turnover. >> Right. So, um, okay. So, part part of and what's deceiving about that line item is that that's not the only thing that goes towards economic development.
That specific line item is going to be used to help train our business owners and provide tools that we can turn key to them and and help them grow their business, retain their business, and maybe find new business. So, the $4,000 really when when like one expert, this
uh store mastery guy is $1,000, but he's a great he's a great guy. He's all over uh Montlair and he's all over South Orange, Maplewood. Um and he really wants he really wants to work with us, but he's $1,000 for a day. >> That's fine because again, I I think
retention is really really important for the for the alliance. Um uh what other types I I saw in the presentation you talked about data from the digital operations but are you doing
and you said you're going to get placer data this year >> from national >> is it going to be as as detailed as the when you came to the >> we should whatever we need um actually the the strategic plan had a whole big section on like data sourcing and the
the people that are here and what our leakage is and all that all that good stuff. >> See, I I I know I talk about metrics and data every year because I just think it's helpful in figuring out whether your strategy or your tactics are working or not. So, that's why I'm
always uh asking about that. Do you get data from parking meters? >> No. Do we even use parking meters anymore downtown? >> Yeah. I I I actually always when whenever I ask that question they whenever I ask about parking they say
you want to take over your parking lots. Um I was like how much money do we make on the parking lots and no one really tells me. So >> we don't have half our meters are broken. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But I do actually have an idea that I would like to talk to you about on side about that. Um
>> me or Mr. Smaldo? Probably you need to talk to Mr. Smaldo. >> No, that's okay. >> Pardon me. Okay. So just a couple other questions. Just a couple other questions. Uh uh the West Orange card, is that even being uh is that even being supported anymore? >> The Shop West Orange card.
>> Shop West Orange. >> Yes. Okay. So, it's still in the line item. And I totally need help with this with this program. The West Orange tax court program is shop locally and save money on your taxes. So, you go to the
Dunkin Donuts that's in the program and a little bit of money comes off comes out of the business owner and goes on your tax bill at the end of the the quarter in August. A check gets cut to people that elect to get a check or
money goes down goes back on your comes off your tax bill. So, when you actually get your tax bill, it'll say, you know, shop orange minus, you know, $500. What I really love about the program, and I wish that I had more time to work on it, because it is such a good advertising
source for our business owners, the business owner has to pay $10 a month whether you use the program or not, but they only pay their discount if you shop there. So, if you put an ad in the Chronicle,
everybody sees it, nobody sees it, you spent $700. you you use you're advertising the shopper storage program. You don't pay a 11% off of $100 until you've made $100. So, I love the program. It's in there. We need to do
better because it's a really good program. Um and it and it's cheap for our business owners. >> Excuse me, council. Councilman, um since CO and when the businesses were struggling, they a lot of them dropped out of the program. That was another
issue. Oh, okay. >> That's true. Um, we still we still have like a good amount. Um, and I love the salesman for the company. Uh, it it it it's an important thing that I wish that we could do more of. >> Okay. I I'm just bouncing around to just different places. Under visual
improvement, you had for capital expense, you had uh you're projecting $15,000 or budgeting for $15,000 this year. What is capital expense? That is garbage cans, planters, uh a sign. Yeah.
>> Okay. Um and restaurant week. >> Yes. >> Uh I went to two restaurant week uh places on Saturday all excited and neither one of them knew that it started that day. >> That's on their owner.
>> I Yeah, they uh I Yeah. So, so I just want to I think it's a great idea and uh the restaurants we went to were great. >> I would like to know offline who they were. Okay, we um we we sent an email out like twice. We sent it out on Friday. We sent it out on Saturday. We
gave them I can even send it to you. Um >> that's sad to to hear that they didn't know about it. A lot of the other ones do. Um you know, >> but now they do know because we were there. But I just wonder if maybe to help solve that problem that you put
together some inexpensive collateral that they can put up on the counter, you know counter. >> Yeah. >> Blackards just to remind them and and the people that are coming in. I don't know if that's >> They don't want to put it up. >> They don't want to put it up because they have to pay the discount. Is that what it is?
>> Right. They want people to go there for the restaurant week special, not the folk that's already their customer that gets the benefit of the special. >> Right. Okay. Okay. And so there's a lot of restaurants in the Alliance area that that don't participate. I'm sure you've
talked to a lot of them. What What is it that they don't want to to do? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we we do have I mean all all the good ones are in um the all the bakeries are in. Um,
yeah. I can't think of one that that we wanted in that that didn't that didn't do it. When you're asking our business owners to give something away, it's like no. Um, so we, you know, we try to really tell them and that's why
we need the public to go to those restaurants and say, "I'm here because I saw restaurant week." Um, our social media is has been really good on it. actually a bunch of people have reposted our stuff and our newsletter got a great open rate. So hopefully that'll pick up
a little bit. >> So maybe for next year maybe try to figure out some way to get data that that will tell people tell your restaurants, hey you you get a boost in business by doing that, >> right? So we had a business last year that we like convinced strongly to get
in restaurant week last year and we checked in with her afterwards. She did great and then she didn't come in this year. Oh, okay. >> Wish they had a bad year, >> right? So, I think it was just a busy year. They had personnel changes, you know. >> Okay, that's all my questions. Thank you very much. Thanks for your patience.
>> We try. I did. Thank you. Thank you so much for your presentation and your information. Um, just wanted to circle back and address one of the questions um when we talk about resources and helping and supporting the business was the app, the West Orange app. Is that um part of
your budget for this year? Are you going to be able to revitalize that with another vendor? What is this? >> Yeah, there was a slide on it, Primeorn Media. Um, what happened was I said, "We can't have an app anymore." And the board's like, "No, no, no. We need an app. We love We love the app. The app's
really important." So, we went back and we found these uh these two young uh college college graduates from Monontlair State that uh that own Pineborn Media and they're rebuilding our app. And it's actually going to be a lot better than the old app. like the old app had like funky weird tweaks and
uh I think that the companies that had our app, the towns that had our app are going to pick up these these guys app uh after we're done when they see it. Um and we're going to be able to add town resources on uh on the app. It was it was really popular. When I looked at the this the stats, the data, I was like,
"Wow, you know, this page was important, that page was important." They look at council meeting agendas. question. >> I just have one comment. You mentioned that there's I think 18,000 for videos and you mentioned videos of the zoo, the
the um reservation. Why focus on anything outside of downtown, which is your mandate? >> Yeah. So, it's a tourism grant and when we put it together, so the state of New Jersey requests townships get out, get get a
tourism grant. the townships or the towns have to partner with a nonprofit. That's us. So, we said we were going to talk about all things tourism uh in town and that's why we picked up, you know, this the stuff that's outside of the corridor. The other thing that we've
always found is when we just talking about something that's downtown, people are like, "Oh, that's not for me. I don't I don't I don't go downtown. I don't live near downtown. I'm not going downtown." When I put something in that's got McLoon and the zoo or the ice
skating and and the Edison Museum, then they're like, "Oh, Edison Museum." So, they're seeing us as a as a byproduct of like us celebrating the rest of the town. >> But yeah, that's how Go ahead. Go ahead. And to that point, you know, you have
the museum, the golf course also we include in that. Um and and the zoo complex because you get, you know, tens of thousands if not over 100 thousand visitors per year to the township. So you got to feed off of that. And
>> the the township the township force is is a a big a big cell, >> you know, it's a beautiful property. Um, so yeah, >> and that's why we include we open up restaurant week and we partner with the PRC is because, you know, just to drive
uh folks to restaurant week for downtown, we open up to the whole town and this way again it just enhances the event. >> Anyone else with questions? >> Thanks. >> Thank you very much. Very comprehensive.
>> Okay, don't forget to vote yes, >> please. Thank you all very much. You're welcome. Jim, whose thing is it about? >> Yeah. >> Why would he be in that? >> Right. >> It says it's somebody else, right? >> Forward.
>> That's what I thought. people. >> Is there a motion to approve the 2026 Downtown West Orange Alliance budget? >> I make a motion to approve the 2026 Downtown Alliance budget.
>> And I'll second it. Thank you. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Thank you. I I just want to thank the
board too for just being so so great with your time and your dedication uh to our downtown. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Go. Okay. >> Go ahead. Can I go with you?
>> Really? That was my question. >> It's all right. >> You want to get a consent to? >> Sure. Um, okay. Uh, approval of minutes of previous meeting public meeting February 10th, 2026. >> Consent. That report of township
officers, none. Reading of petitions and communications and bids. Dgnen Park Community Garden and Outdoor Fitness area. Safe streets and roads for all studies and supplemental planning professional services. Certified public accountant to perform forensic audit and
RFQ for arborous services for the planning board. >> Consent. >> Consent. >> Consent. >> Okay. Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. Um, since since we are now reading or or posting the reading of petitions, I have requested that there be a link to
each of these petitions on the website. Can that be done? >> The bids are already on the website. >> I know that I know they are. I'm talking about when it goes up on the agenda, it has these bids so so that the public can
see it. I would like the bids to be linked to these. You just embed it so that they double work. Everything's already on the website to get >> I understand, but it's it's not easy. It's not an easy site to navigate and this would make it >> it's
>> that's you have to make that decision. >> I don't even know how to link it, but I mean I suppose I could >> just our website could >> It's not a website. It's the agenda. Yeah, >> she has could figure out how to embed the the link.
>> It is still work. It's already there. So, and it's right on the front page. So, it's kind of >> it would be it would be nice >> for the public to read. >> It's on the bids. >> Yeah. It's clear.
>> The problem that we had is that the square. So if you go to any of the township webs, they all have a tab for bids because there's no longer posting in public newspapers because there's not many print publications in some online. >> So if you go to our website, bids is
there. If you go to Montlair's website, bids are there. They all have to be online. That's the new law. >> Thank you. >> I understand that it's there. I'm just making that request so that it could be linked. I understand that that people can look under bids and proposals, but
since it's going up, it's just linking. I'm making a request. If the if the response is no, then the response is no. I'm just making a request. >> Um, okay. Bill list. Um, are there any questions on the bill?
>> Yeah. Yes. This week I had um a runaround to get the bills because the administration has decided instead of just pushing the button and putting all the bills up online so that I could go through them. I had to come into this
into the office and sit with an employee for two hours while the bills were being taken out to give to me. and then I could request to see which ones I want emailed to me, even though this is really part of my job as a council
person. So, I did not get to look at the bills that were posted in a booklet for for the council to see on th on Thursday when we got our packets. I couldn't see the invoices. I had to wait until Monday
morning to come in and look at the invoices. After I went through all of this and wasted an employees two hours of this employees time, I came home, I sent all of my questions about the bills and I
did not get a response at all. So all of the things that I had questions on that I got no responses on, I would like to pull and I will explain why. So I did send to madame clerk the the bill list that I am pulling and I would
really like to understand why instead of just pushing one button and allowing the council to see the invoices this process has been put in place is it just clearly to be obstructionist and make it more difficult for me to ask questions
and why waste a an employes's time with me. So, the decision was made by the mayor which was discussed last week in executive session which I'm not at liberty to discuss here in public. It is an operational decision that the administration is not releasing all those documents. It will be on a request
issue. That's it. Plain and simple. >> Mayor and we stated that last week. You heard the mayor say it and that's what it was. So, um the questions came in last night. I apologize. I know that there were some were answered. Honestly, today uh day of um the day of our meetings is quite uh cumbersome for us.
I had director's meetings and things of that nature. So, um I will get you the answers. I know that some were provided and uh I just unfortunately I just didn't get a chance to get to them today because we had a very busy day. >> None of the answers were provided to me and the reason I understand that I I they were provided to me and I didn't
answer your question. >> Okay. You set up a process correct to make it more difficult for me to see the bills. >> No, it's not. >> And to waste an employees time. >> Well, quite frankly, you're wasting employees times most of the time when you're with your question. So, if we're going to go with that, um, you know, I'm
just going to let you know because most of your questions are >> I'm an elected official and you are not. And it is my job to look at the bills. >> Right. It's my job. >> It's my job and it's your job to obstruct me from looking at the bill. >> No, it's my job to run the administration. >> Okay. >> So, we made a decision.
>> All right. So, so, so from here on in, if that is the way it's going to be, then I probably will not get my answers and we'll just pull the bills and and and um not not include them. So, I am pulling. Do do you need me to call the numbers because you already have them,
Madam CL? And we have a vote on that as well. >> Anchor, >> I thought that it was necessary if we were not going to pay bills for that to be done by a majority vote. That would >> Okay. So we can identify the bills that
want to be pulled but if the majority is comfortable going ahead with those bills then that will not be pulled. I mean that will be paid. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Thank you. Just want a clarification on thinking. >> Yeah. Um
Okay. So I guess >> should we go through them individually? >> I I don't see I don't see the I I've already sent you all of all of the ones that I want pled. No, I know I have the seven. I'm asking if we should go through them individually or
>> Okay, no worries. Okay, so the first one is uh for OUL and SCRO for $585. >> Correct. >> The answer to that one is that an incident occurred prior to those dates
that you asked. Um and and while the the employee who um requested those services retired, the incident still remained and there was work that had to be performed. I believe was for $585. But just because the employee retired doesn't mean that the um that the um the case didn't go
away or or the or the work for the attorney. >> The work continued afterwards. >> That's a very interesting change in answer from what you gave me. What you said to me in an email was that the work was done prior to the employee
resigning. >> Well, and the work was done after the employee pretty much. >> No, no, no, no. Let's be clear. The work was done after the employee retired. >> So, I am pulling that bill because I do not think that we pay bills for former
employees, legal bills for former employees. The second bill I pulled was one Well, we have to take a vote. >> Okay. I I we don't have We're missing one of our council members. >> Okay, we can wait. >> While we're waiting, could I just could
I just try to clarify what what what you're talking about? Two different things. Bills and the invoices behind them and the other backup. So, because I I wasn't aware of this because I saw the bill list. It's like the bill
list we always get. Mhm. >> So, what councilwoman is talking about is it's no longer easy for her to see the invoices that back up the actual bills. >> The the process is that and a decision was made by the mayor, which I
implemented, is that we're going to let anybody can see the bills they want. They just have to come in and do it. We're not sending it out because because we're concerned about the release of items that may or may not be. So, that's that's the current concern. I I can't get into it more than what we've discussed. >> I'm sorry. I was not at the uh that
executive session, so I didn't know that that was discussed. >> That was a decision that was made. >> All of the bills that are paid are should be public information and are available and are available through an OPRA that would have to be responded to within 6 hours. So you your decision to
do this just makes more work for your own >> six hours. >> Yes. Well, >> within 6 hours. In fact, if if I opra this, you would have to respond within six hours. >> Well, we could respond, but you may not get the information because if we don't have the staff to get they may not be
immediately accessible. It's more than a push of a button. >> It is literally a push of the button because >> I beg to differ. I had >> all of these bills are currently online. >> I've had several conversations with our QPA. It is more than a >> hard also told me that all of this is
available up online. It is the decision of the administration not to push that button and to make me come in and sit and go through bills individually and have them pulled for me. >> That's partially correct. It's not just for you. It's it's for the entire
council. Anybody wants to come in, they can come see it. But that is the decision of the administration. That's confirmed. >> I I understand that's the decision. It's the decision to be obstructionist. I understand that. >> That's a difference of opinion. >> So, yeah. >> Okay. Well, I I need a motion to pull
the $5852. >> I make a motion to pull the $585 because I do not believe that we should be paying legal bills for an employee who was no longer employed. And this is work that was done after the employee left.
>> Have a bunch of >> commentary now. So, discussion has been called up. Yeah, I >> a second. >> Yes. So, it dies on the floor. >> Is there a second to the motion? >> I mean, I think the council president is the person who should be presiding. I don't think you should be calling for a
second. I mean, are we going to use Robert's rules of order and govern ourselves with respect and responsibility or are we just going to continue to be at will? >> We're waiting to see if there's going to be a second. >> I'll I'll second it. And I just want to
as part of the kickoff of the discussion, we pulled this uh last week or last council meeting if if I remember correctly and it was to explore what we were uh trying to figure out what happened. Now, it appears that we know
what happened and I would think that we could get a pretty quick legal decision or at least from our uh CFO about whether this is a legitimate uh invoice to pay. If in fact what happened was uh
it occurred that whatever the incident was being investigated was uh before the employee retired but it was still an issue that came up after retirement if I understand correctly. Is that that sounds legitimate to me, but I I just
need some sort of clarification if I can please. >> I I'm sorry, Councilman. I don't have details on the work that Oul Scrie performed. Um, so I I I just can't give you a good answer on that. I didn't have an answer
for it two weeks ago, and I don't have one now. >> Okay. And I'm going to throw this out to our our uh town attorney for a night. Is do you know whether just theoretically or legally we can pay a
bill that occurred uh where the incident occurred before the retirement and and uh was actually providing leave advice after the retirement. micro mic, please. Otherwise, I can't hear
yet. >> Thank you. >> If it was in relation to conduct or lack thereof when it was an employee, the town is likely obligated to pay for those services if that is in fact the case. >> Okay. >> Okay. Sounds like we're up.
>> But but but you are not familiar with this case, so it's it's kind of a supposition. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> Okay. Okay. Well, let's call for the vote. Councilwoman Castelino,
>> what's the vote? To pay it >> to pull it whether or not you want to pull it and not pay it. >> And it was before the whether it enacted before which I read. Okay. Right. know
I I again I if it shouldn't be on there then the attorney would need to pull it and if it's not pulled I this is where I get frustrated because the points are made and we have a whole conversation of it we're week after week so the ruling
from the administration is that it should be on the list or it shouldn't >> it should be on the list yes >> it >> it should be this was work that was performed prior to and I believe The work was continued with it. The whatever action was I can't get into it. It was an employee at the time. I'll ask you.
>> It continued. It continued on afterwards and and they they were finishing up for $585. I don't for a legal bill. I don't think it was much work for >> I'm going to I'm going to uh I'm not going to pull it. Okay. Councilman Koviaak. >> So your answer is >> no.
>> Okay. I'm a no as well. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President Scarpa. >> No. >> Okay. The motion uh fails. Uh okay. Hold on. All right. Uh next is
190400 paging services. So, the paging services, just so you know that what that is, um the the animal control officers have telephones, but the dispatchers don't
know always have who's on call. So, what the the dis the police dispatch do is that when there's a call, pre- call for an animal control officer, they just hit this paging service, which simultaneously pages out to our our animal control officer. It's the system we use. It's what we've been using. It's
and uh and this is what the the services required of them. >> Oh, I don't know. I don't have the amount the dollar amount. So, >> it's $200 and it it's every single month to use a pager system when people have
phones. >> It's not just the phone. It's as I said, it's it's the on call because not we only have two officers and for the our dispatch to keep that straight and sometimes people take off and stuff. It's just easier and u more efficient to
to do it this particular way. Um and that's what the director of health had had provided me. >> I have a dollar amount of 3156. $31.56. >> Yeah. >> On the bill list for this one. >> Probably monthly.
>> Oh, yeah. Well, >> is there a motion then? >> Yes. Is there a motion to pull? Okay. >> Is there a motion to pull? >> Yes, I make a motion to pull the bill. I'd like to discuss this further and see
why we're wasting $2,400. >> Is there a second? >> Uh, I'll second uh for just for further discussion and for clarification. Uh, >> one of my concerns is that we spend a whole lot of time on these bills and I'd
like to see if we can get more efficient on this by doing it before the meeting starts. But I I you guys seem to be working off of a piece of paper that I don't that I don't have. >> It's billless. >> It's a billless and and council.
>> Yes. Go ahead. Um, council councilman, I would exactly like to do what you suggested and that's why I I have requested looking at the bills in advance and getting my questions in in advance so that we don't have to sit here and waste time. But
this is the process that the mayor has set up and this is why we are sitting here doing this now. >> Okay. So, how many bills are you planning to pull? Seven, council. Seven. Okay. We're going to be home. >> Well, then that's
uh more palatable than 37. But that's what I wanted to >> I wanted to get clear. And uh if we are in a situation where we've had a motion and a second, we can now discuss this
and perhaps the council woman can explain why she wants to pull the bill so that we could get a little bit and and also to hear back from the administration uh so that we can get a better idea of of whether we want to support this or not. Am I am I off base on that? Is that
>> Well, she did. She did. Yeah, she did. And um Mr. Smiraldo said that he felt that the they needed these pagers because people are off and and they they didn't feel the phone would be a viable way. >> According to the health director, it's
an operational need. This is what they have. They don't have a better system right now. I know he's he's always looking at Mr. F director Fonino is always looking at technology. If he can get something better, he will. So, as of right now, this is the current system. For us to not pay right now and shut it down, it would be a disservice for
because we're we're the animal control officer. they go out they have to go out and do work um that's related to that is typically in an e situation. So >> I'm sorry >> doctors still have patience when they're
on call. >> So >> okay. So let's move forward with it. >> Well, we have a motion on the board. >> Yeah, we have Is there a second? We have all that. >> Yeah, we had a second. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> no. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> no. >> Councilwoman Ruden,
>> yes. Councilwoman Williams, Council President Scarpa. >> No. >> Okay. So, the motion fails. >> Okay. >> Um, >> what's the third? >> I'm sorry. >> The third one that I' I'd like to pull
is um 1 190789 for cell phones. I went through um every single bill on this and I found that we have 30 unused phones or
um iPads. 30. One of them is Mr. Smearaldos, which has absolutely no usage. And I would like to >> That's not true. So that those those 30s uh uh they're they're part of the police department. It's emergency service. Some
of these things are assigned to vehicles that we're not going to talk about. Um, so that's and I asked Mr. Garcia to look at it and he's doing another review. He's and he'll get he'll let us know if there's phones that are not being utilized. >> Okay. Can we table that to the next meeting and we'll have an answer.
>> You can table. >> Okay. There. And there we also >> order table something. We have to vote on it. >> Yep. So, >> so, >> so do you want a motion to pull or a motion to table?
>> Well, the original motion was to pull. >> I will either to to pull and I'd like to table. >> Okay. >> So, that this could be looked at. The first time I did this, I brought it out for 6 months until it was finally pulled back and the taxpayers saved from 10 a
$10,000 bill down to down to 5,000. I'm looking at this again. I think we can make more savings. >> I'll second the table. >> It's already seconded. No, it is the motion on the floor, >> right? >> It wasn't seconded. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> That's okay. So, this is to table.
Councilwoman Castelino. >> I'm going to I'm going to have to say no because we we had a whole discussion and I appreciate that you found those devices. I hope there's a system in place
and I don't regret voting no. But again, we got to let our department heads do what they need to do after a very long lengthy budget last year of 18 meetings. If everyone didn't get the message now,
then, you know, it's it would be extremely disappointing. So, I'm going to say no. Everybody needs to do their job. >> Councilman Kovia. >> Yes. Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, the table.
>> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> Okay, so the motion carries the table. >> What's the third one? >> It's the fourth one. >> Fourth one. >> 1 191080. >> Okay, this I I would just like to bring this to everybody's attention. There's nothing that we can do about it, but I'm
pulling this for discussion. >> Do I have to make a motion? >> No. >> Okay. Um, >> it's only being discussed. It's not being voted on. So, >> right, I wish I wish that I had known about this. Um, at an earlier meeting,
we had a a very big presentation on this package that we are switching to. We're switching to CVS Care away from >> Just interrupt real quick just so people know what we're talking about. It's the Benacord liquidated damages $278,853.3.
When this came before the council, we were told only that an agreement with Caremark would save us a tremendous amount of money. What we were not told is that there would be a $278,853
liquidation liquidated damage fee. In other words, a cancellation fee. Why were we not told about that? And that's something >> you were you were and the $278,000 liquidated damage was was calculated into the savings.
>> You never described to the council that there will be a fee for cancelling Benard. >> We were just told that there would be tremendous savings going forward with CVS and there may be and there may be. still may be worth the move, but we as a
council should have known that there was going to be a cancellation fee to the tune of almost $300,000. >> So, would you have kept it and then spent a million dollar more on? >> I would have liked to have had that information and not be treated like a child. >> Nobody's treating you like a child. Come
on. Let's not be so dramatic. Our our our rep mentioned the liquidated damages when she went over the savings. She said, "We're we have uh an an exit fee from Bennard, but it's been factored into the $700,000."
>> Exit is not $300,000. >> See, it's still saving us money. I mean, are we What comes first, the chicken or the egg? >> She talked it was a one month um >> period >> liquidated or whatever exit be. So it's basically one month of our prescription
drug coverage >> and the savings were still >> still there. Yeah, that's factoring damages. Yeah. >> It's not It was information that should have been provided very clearly to the council. That's all that's my point. Can Can I move on?
>> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um 171072. There is a bill for >> that one. >> What? >> I don't have that one. Or are we doing anything with the Ben card? >> No, that was just >> No, I I wanted to discuss this and this
could have been a discussion offline if Mr. Mr. Smaldo had deemed it appropriate to to give me access and let me ask my questions in a timely fashion. >> Noted. >> Okay. Um, there is a problem. There was a bill
from Mr. Pastor. >> Councilwoman, I don't have that on my list. >> It's 1 191072. The reason why I question this is because we this council last at at the last meeting passed a
contract for Mr. Pastor which included $31,500 to be to be divvied up in 12 month aotments. I do understand that that is not going to be taking place, but that is the contract that was signed and that
is the contract that the majority of this council passed. So, I am requesting that there be a resolution to withdraw that resolution that this this council passed and a new one to revise the
contract that does not include the 31,500 which was should not have been on there. >> Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. The next one that I that I would like to that I would like to discuss is
1 190943 10 Rooney uh circle we are still paying >> excuse me so what first all right you're going a little too fast because I had seven resolution or seven bills that you
presented to me in an email and now we're adding additional ones. Oh, no. I still have the same one, two. >> She's not counting her her. >> This is her quick 567. That's all I have. So I have the email I got from you
was 1 19563 1-9400 1-9789 1-91080 1 9-943 1-91097 and 189716
1 9 072 The last one was not on the email that you sent me. >> Okay. >> And I don't know what is the one that you're currently talking about. I'm not sure. Um 1 n 0943. >> This is herk rental.
>> That one I do have. Sorry. >> Okay. Yes. All right. Go on. >> Um we are still paying for light towers that are using a generator outside of our library. And it seems like the the total is $5,562
a month. And I brought this to the attention of the council when I first saw it last year and was told that this is the way it is. But this is a lot of money and I' I'd really like to know why we can't get some lights installed in
some of the the stands that are out there, get them repaired, and stop paying five $5,500 a month for for something that is just makeshift. So we have to pass the bond.
>> So So part of the reason is and we explained this last year too is that we're waiting to we have to do infrastructure upgrades on the property. Um and without the infrastructure upgrades it's it's quite challenging. The lights that we have up there, we had
them examined. They're they're basically shot. Um and I don't disagree with you that it's a lot of money. We you know we but we have to light the place up. We have the people in the library. We have our tenants. and so and visitors and such, you know, especially during the winter months. But unfortunately,
um to spend the money on lights that one would have to be upgraded probably twice and and everything else. We we looked at with the new plan is to put LEDs. We had to put in underground lighting. We have to do a whole bunch of work. Um so, this is one of these decisions that we're
going to be spending bad money by putting on uh lights that are, you know, probably have to be replaced when we upgrade the whole system. So >> when the building was purchased, there were no lights in the whole property all the way around. >> No, they were they were out. This is an old building that needs you you saw the
bills that we had to pay just to build the library itself and upgrade. You know, >> we're paying $66,000 a year for this. I I would assume that >> Council I disagreeing with you. I I I would love to get them replaced and get them out of there. Um so but
>> Okay. I'm just calling this once again to to the administration's attention that this is another issue. >> Councilman Koviac and then I >> could just ask I know the council uh voted down the proposed uh project there last year. Is the administration
planning on bringing that back or perhaps in a down a more modest proposal? >> The the issue is that when we made that presentation last year is that I forget what the number was. I forget how many millions. It's been a while now, but the issue was the decision was made at the
time. Some were in favor of the entire project, some were not in favor of the entire project doing a peace meal, but based on what the um uh C I believe was CME who put it together and our and director Carvalo, it the the best
savings for us to do the project all at one time. And um but that was a decision we brought to the council to review. Um, you know, if if the council would like to entertain that again and take a look at it, that's fine. You know, we'd be I'd be more than happy to put it up. Um,
because we need to finish the, you know, finish the project up. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I I just I just know there was quite a lot of opposition to the pickle ball courts just because >> Well, that I think that's another discussion we can have and that's something I I I could talk to you offline about that because there may be
there may be some thoughts about the pickle ball court not being included with that particular area. Okay. >> Maybe maybe a a more b a better option. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> thank you. I just wanted to put on the record that us talking about an
expensive bill to light up the parking lot at the library and we've talked about it before and it's been brought to our attention before at 12:00 at night is so redundant and unnecessary. We're clear on what the
expense is. We all have had an opportunity to review the bills, but it it it really is just non essential chatter. Don't just talk about the things that are important and that we need to vote on. We know we have the
bill, but we also know we need to take care of public safety. Councilwoman Ruth, >> the reason why we are doing this is because my questions were not answered and that is why we are laboring through this. Answered the questions to me in a
timely manner. This would never this would not be there. >> The last time that you asked the question. >> No. No. Because there the when I asked this last time they were going to look into this. Now we realize that since I have brought this out, it's cost more
than 66,000. This is an electrical issue. Come on. >> Electrical issue at a parking lot at a site is way more than $66,000 to remedy. >> Oh, now you're an electrician and you know that >> you a lot of things and you talk. So,
what's the difference? I know it's going to cost more than $60,000. >> Can we move on, please? >> Okay. The next one that I I had a question on was one nine uh 1 191097
Hudson County Regional Shared Service $5,000. What is this for? >> So that's um Director Fronzino did describe that last year in in the budget hearing. So we contract with Essex Health Regional to perform work as county.
>> I I understand. I'm explaining if you let me finish. Um and so we need a health officer. We don't have a health officer. Essex, we contract with Essex uh regional. Essex Regional in turn also um goes through Hudson. It's the way
that the it's set up through the state. So Hudson is the parent company to Essex who helps provide it to us. That's what was explained to me today. So So we can have a health officer and it's $20,000 I think for the year, which is a lot cheaper than a salaried employee.
Nope. >> Okay, let's go to the next question. >> The next question is 189716. Um, the township paid to review a retaining wall at 275 Northfield. I'd like to understand what that bill was for.
>> So, that was done through escrow. Um, and that was for the safety of the wall. It's um it's paid to the consultant for reviewing the wall and design and construction through escrow. >> What escrow account was that? I have no idea.
>> I did not see that that was an escrow. If that was, I would like clarification. >> There was an escrow account. >> Can you can you confirm that >> there's a Ron Jolin? >> Yes. Ron Jalin >> uh property inspection account. Uh
Jackamo Jackamoitz. >> J Kimitz. John be much better than how I said it. That's that's the owner of the property. >> Yeah, there's an escrow account established um for property inspections for that uh >> it's been there a while property.
>> Okay, thank you. >> Let's move on. >> The resolution. >> Is that it? >> Yeah, >> that's it. >> Consent. >> Consent. All right. Resolutions. Um are any resolutions being pulled this
evening? >> Yes. You want to go first? >> Uh, just 115-26. >> That's it. >> Yeah. Okay. Councilwoman Williams, anything you want to vote
or discuss? >> Um, I'm open. >> Okay. Councilwoman Ruden, >> I believe I believe we are already pulling 108 and 109. >> No,
I I'm not. >> This was just discussed. If you want to pull just let us know so we can Yes. >> There was a >> there was a discussion to pull this so that this could come back with proper
contracts. >> Make a motion to then >> it was a motion to table. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So then these are not on but the public we have to >> No, we have to make the motion here to table. >> Excuse me. We have to make the motion
now to table. So who can make the motion to table? So I may make a motion to table 108 and 109. >> You have to pull it first. Pull it first. >> Then we go back >> and then we'll go around. >> We have to make a motion to pull and then a motion to table. Yes. >> All right. Hold on.
>> All right. So we'll do the 108 first. >> We have to get to polling though. >> Okay. And then is there uh a motion to pull? >> No. No, no, >> no, no. We're going to put to the table and then we'll make the motion to table later after everybody pulls everything.
>> He just said we need a motion to pull and a motion to >> but that motion to table will come later. First we're all going to pull everything and then we're right then. Yeah, we're going to pull everything and then >> No, I understand >> you can make a motion table. >> Things change because we have a new attorney. So,
>> no, no, no, no. He said we're on the right track. We're going to pull everything and then she can make a motion to tame. >> Okay. Councilwoman Ruden, what else do you want to pull? on 109. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> We already did 116.
>> 115. >> Is that it? >> Yes. >> Councilman Kobak, are you pulling anything? >> Uh, I I don't think so. I need to ask a question or perhaps I need to pull it just uh >> You don't need to pull to ask question. >> Okay. Uh 105-26
resolution granting Pure Natural Vibes of renewal of its local license. When you look at it, it said, I just want to make sure that that this is straight on the one, two, three, fourth, whereas uh it says it began its retail
operations on September 28th, 24, 2024. >> Right. >> It's a one-year license, which means it should have been renewed at or around September 28th, 2025, >> which it was. >> Pardon? >> It was. >> It was.
>> Yeah. So that's basically just historic but when it began. >> Um I guess suppose it could have been updated to say it renewed in 2025 and now they're ready to renew again this evening. >> Okay. I I I just think if you're going to put on that it's that it has it
started its retail operations in 24 24 and now it's 26. >> I I can't believe I'm the only person that raises that issue. >> You were the only one? >> Yeah. when I raised other issues and I'm going to pull it. >> Oh, so you're going to pull it. Oh,
okay. Well, um Okay, that's my question. >> Okay. Nothing else. >> That's the only one I'm going to pull. Okay. And are you pulling to ask questions or you want a separate vote on it? >> Um let's have a separate vote. Okay.
Okay. Anything else? That's it for me. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> 107. >> Motion. >> No. >> Second. >> Councilwoman, did you second that?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Council Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Well, okay. Councilman Koviaak, >> I'm sorry. What's the motion? >> Consent. Good. >> Oh, yes. I >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council
President. >> Yes. >> Okay. The consent agenda is amended. >> 105. >> Yes. I'm sorry. Go on. Um, okay. So, 105, resolution granting Pure Natural
Vibes a renewal of its local license to operate a cannabis retail business with the Township of West Orange for 2026. Council President, you pulled that. Yes, I pulled this because I would like to see the operating agreement and uh I Mr.
Smeraldo told me that the council does not have the ability to take a look at the operating agreement and I feel I cannot vote on something that I haven't where I haven't seen the agreement. Now I'm not looking for the security plan but I am looking for the operating agreement and what I understanding is
there's like 15 other people who see this agreement and I feel it's important. It's not 15, it's about five. >> Many other people and I feel that I cannot vote on something that I haven't. >> Well, I reached out to Mr. Samero and he
said he was going to look into it. Um, and I I did not get a reply. So, >> okay. I would like him to look into that and I would like him to re uh revise the ordinance that the council can have access to the operating
>> if it's legal. He can do that. that's what he's looking into. You know, I don't have the answer. >> I'd like to make a statement being I'm the only person here that was on the cannabis task force. So, um in the process with the renewals, which is a little bit needs to be a little bit
tightened up, and I'm going to talk to Mr. Samrerero about that. Um so, we did receive the operating agreement. The council received the entire packet from the applicant with the original application. if there's a change in the operating
agreement which was asked by uh the clerk the clerk's office um and the police chief then we would get the updated version uh operating agreement for an LLC you don't issue a new one
every year you only you only issue it it will only change when it's revised and in our ordinance it clearly states it's on the applicant if it gets revised Ed, they have to get it to us within 30 days. However, on the yearly basis, that
question needs to be asked. I don't have a problem putting in the ordinance that when they do their application, this is something that comes out of your office that they have to once again give a copy. Not a big deal. It's only I think of an email
>> but but it's and that was because we did want to make sure that there weren't you know there was any change in the ownership the operating agreement um does uh break down uh the membership of an LLC so you know who is personally
uh the personal stakeholders are even if it's in the name of an LLC that second LLC would also have to give their operating agreement and that's something the uh you know that was uh all agreed upon and so to to ask for it tonight
really isn't necessary. >> Well, I asked for it a while ago and I couldn't have access. >> It should be given to the council. You >> It should be on the one drive, >> but Well, no, not even that. You >> No, >> no, no, no. It should not be on the one drive, but it was given to you with
their original application. You should have it in your emails. >> Um I just Oh, >> go ahead, counselor. So I I'm going to push back a tremendous amount because I've met with all of our cannabis entities and as far as the renewal process is concerned, it's almost like
they're going through the initial process. Exactly. >> We are talking about one of the most highly regulated industries in the state of New Jersey. They sign affidavit. They resubmit all of their documents and they resubmit them to the professionals. At
some point, as much as you want to see their operating agreement, it's proprietary information and unfortunately they're not willing to give it just to you as the council president or any of us and it's not
required. So why are we taking businesses who are trying their best and have always complied? We have the capacity to shut down their businesses. We get calls on our ABC stores. We get
calls on our restaurants. There has not been one phone call for any of our cannabis entities of any violation. So why all of a sudden for a small business that is operating successfully are you demanding instead of just
renewing them when they have already been scrubbed and reviewed by the appropriate township authorities and and making them feel like they're doing something wrong. You don't have to like cannabis, but these are good bonafide operators in our town that are paying
revenue unlike any other business. Unless you live in the S district, it's it's not fair. It's it's unacceptable. It's absolutely unacceptable. And if you haven't changed the rules, then you you propose that the rules get changed. But
don't sit behind this day and make that type of accusation or statement like there's some type of taboo business or doing something wrong. >> No one's making those. >> That is exactly what you're doing. You may not realize it, but that is exactly the impression that you're giving to our
small business owners. >> Council Modak, did you have something you want to say? >> Yeah, I just wanted to to clarify something uh that was previously said. Uh there's a section in the ordinance that says uh any change in ownership
subject to disclosure uh shall be subject to approval by the township of West Orange by written notice to the licensed cannabis entity within two weeks. So any transfer of the license occur if any transfer of the license occurs
within the township council without the township council approval the licensed cannabis entity shall cease operations. So, it's not a month. I think it it looks like it's only two weeks, right? >> Okay. >> If there's a change in if that's what it says if if I'm reading it.
>> Did I rewrite it? Are you done? >> Yeah, I'm finished. Sorry. >> That's it. Okay. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, I'm going to apologize to our business owners and I explained this back then when we had asked for the operating agreement. it it you should
not feel bail at all because this is about LLC's. You know, we've had LLC businesses that have are absentee landlords sometimes and then we can't get a hold of them. We felt it very important and there was discussion councilwoman when you you
>> I was on the council. >> Yeah. So, you made the vote. You support you supported that at the time and you know it's just about being able to identify the owners. This is a business that we were all very nervous about >> and everything. >> Okay. Okay. I don't have the floor. You
want to talk about Robert now? I I have the floor. So again, this isn't a big deal. This real I I I do real I did you I'm retiring now. Uh real estate transactions for big commercial clients for many many years. Your operating
agreement is not a big deal. So, you know, there's no reason unless you're changing and you're, you know, people hide behind layers of of, you know, of LLC's. I'm not saying these folks do, but, you know, we, you know, again, it's
transparency. We all talk about transparency. We need to know because of the industry of of who the ownership is. And I'm sorry. I'm not going to apologize for that. We have to make sure when this business came to us that and
this business is is different and this is no offense saying the business owners but the state when the state gave licenses and and opened up the industry. The problem that they made and the mistake they made is they should have
just mirrored it after the ABC uh laws. That would have been the easiest thing. Then there wouldn't be any differentiation. It would be very easy. you could really compare it to the ABC. But the difference with the the cannabis and the difference between the ABC is
that you could have uh infractions with the state and you could have a record. So those are the differences and that's why we're taking the extra precautions so there isn't any fraud and whatnot. We've been very fortunate with our business owners that we have today.
We're very appreciative of their business and for putting up with uh all our restrictions, but at the end of the day, it made a heck of a lot of people feel safer in the community to open up to this new industry. And and I'm not
going to apologize for that. And I know I've talen to especially Pure Natural Vibes, they're amazing business owners and I really appreciate all of their patience. But um again, so tonight, no, I don't feel the need to to have a copy of that because we already have it. Um
but we do, you know, it does have to be part of the questionnaire uh when you um so they don't have to go back to the business owner the day before the >> the meeting to get that. >> It was part and um they every lency has
to literally resubmit every single document every year. >> Yes. And this question was asked three different times. I spoke to the owner personally. She said there was absolutely no change. Um and then I
asked um Chief Fula to look into it and he also confirmed um that nothing had changed. I think part of the confusion was there was a mention of personnel in the >> there was and that's what made my
anticip Yeah. But that's like people that might work there. That's not the ownership. It it didn't say change in ownership. It said change in personnel. So there that there is a difference. Um but it it was asked and answered and confirmed and so you should feel you
know >> well I feel very comfortable with the business. They've done a great job but I don't feel I'm going to abstain because I don't feel that I can make it you know make approve it. it was >> without um having the ability to take a
look at that the agreements and I'd like legal counsel to let me know where we are on that and um >> I know Mr. Senate >> and whether you we can take a look at that ordinance and give us the opportunity to take a look at that. >> I'm going to take a look at it. It's I'm not even going to to speculate on the
answers because it's so heavily raised on what's preemptive action. So, okay. >> We also have the owner here who's been patiently waiting all night. So, um is there a motion to approve 105? >> I second.
>> Thank you. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Uh, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Scarfa, >> I'm going to abstain, but I in no means
do I, you know, have any any real reservations about how they're operating. >> Okay. Uh 108-26 resolution authorizing agreement with Matthew Fula, Chief of Police. Uh, Councilwoman Rud, you uh pulled this.
This this was discussed in executive session. >> I make a motion to table. >> Second. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> No. >> Do we want to do any discussion on this
>> table and it's non-debatable? >> Sorry. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> No. Council President Scarfa. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the motion carries.
Okay. Uh 109-26 resolution authorizing agreement with Kevin Dalgau, Deputy Chief of Police. Again, this was pulled by Councilwoman Ruden. Make a motion to table. >> Okay. >> Second.
>> All right. Councilwoman Castelino. No. >> Council Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. >> Okay. The motion carries. All right.
Okay. Next is 115-26. Resolution supporting passage of the Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act. Uh, Councilwoman Castelino, you pulled this. >> Yeah, I stated this earlier. I I mean I don't have a problem with it other than I just just made a commitment that these
type of resolutions um where they are feel good resolutions um I I'm just you know I'm just not going to support them although I may not you know disagree with it so that's all. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve
115-26? >> I have my hand up. >> Oh sorry. Go ahead. Um, I said early in this in this term that West Orange faces many significant challenges that need our urgent and full attention. Relative to this, these support resolutions do
not make significant direct contributions to the West Orange community. These causes, however meritorious, will live or die regardless of this council spending any time debating and deciding on whether to support. I believe council needs to
maximize its focus on initiatives that will have a significant positive impact on making West Orange an even better place to live. >> That >> that's it. Thank you. >> I'd just like to make a quick statement, too. I I we agreed a while ago that these feel-good resolutions are, you
know, something that we should not be engaging in. We should be focusing on the business that we actually can make direct impact on. Um, I want the public to understand that every time we put these resolutions on, we are wasting taxpayer dollars because our attorney is
being paid to design these resolutions and to work on them. And I think we should stop wasting money and focus on the business that we can really have some control over. >> Is there a motion to approve 115-26?
>> I make a motion to approve. Okay. >> Is there a second? Okay. No second. Motion fails. All right. Now, uh 116- Oh, no. We already did that one. So, sorry.
Ordinances on second and final reading. 2957-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 2 administration section 18.2, functions of the engineering department of the municipal code, West Orange. >> I make a motion to approve 29. Introduce
on second. >> Introduce. I'm sorry. Introduce. >> It's okay. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Kovia. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President. >> Yes. >> Okay. The motion carries. Public
hearing. >> Is it was anyone in the audience want to comment? Okay. No, it's on this resolution. Only on this. >> You're good. You're on this ordinance. You're done. We pass. >> You're done. Go to bed. >> You're done. It's only on this
ordinance. >> Wow. You really want to stay? Well, that's something. >> Oh, well. Okay. >> Seeing none. Okay. We'll close public comment. >> Okay. Uh, we have to do a motion to close public comment. Correct. That's what Mark said.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, is there a motion to close public comment? >> Make a motion. Close public comment. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman I'm sorry, Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. Sorry about that. Council Ruden, it is late.
>> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President. Okay. The motion carries. >> Is there a motion to approve on second and final reading? >> I make a motion to second. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. Yes.
>> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President. >> Yes. Barries. 2958-26. An ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 2 administration section 10.1 director of public works duties of the
department of the of the municipal code of west. >> Motion approved 2958 on second. >> Okay. Uh councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Williams. Council. Okay. >> Make a motion for public. >> Yeah. No, you don't have to make a motion for public hearing. You just do it. You call for public hearing. >> Is there anyone in the audience who wants to speak about this resolution or
this ordinance 2717-13? >> No. Seeing none, >> make a motion to close. >> Public. There you go. >> Yeah. Is there a second? >> Yes. I'll second. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino, yes. Counciloman Koviaak, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. Councilwoman Williams.
>> Council President. >> Yes. >> Okay. The motion carries. Is there a motion to approve on second to approve? >> A second. >> Thank you. >> Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Council President.
>> Yes. >> Okay. The motion carries. 2960-26. An ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 2 administration section 71.4 C 72.4. 4 C and 73.4 C formula for reimbursement.
>> Make a motion to introduce >> second. Second and final waking up. Awesome. There you go. Ron roll. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelina. Yes. >> Councilwoman I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Yes.
>> Council President Sparpa. >> Yes. >> Okay. Does anyone have any public comment on 2960-26 the ordinance? Seeing none. >> Okay. Is there a motion to close public comment? >> Second. >> Okay.
>> Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council >> make a motion to approve the ordinance. >> Thank you. >> Oh, second. >> Sorry.
Um, >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Council member Kovia, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> Council President, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> 2962-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing
chapter 21, Environmental Regulations, Section 15.4 C, Design Standard of the Municipal Code of West. >> Move to introduce. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. Councilwoman Oh boy. Councilman Kobiaak. Yes. Sorry.
>> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President. >> Okay. Okay. Does anyone have any comment on 2962-26? >> Seeing none. >> Second. >> Okay. Councilwoman,
Councilman Koviaak. Yes. Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Council President. >> Yes. One second. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. Counciloman Koviaak. Yes. Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Williams. Council President. >> Yes. >> The motion carries. >> 2960 2963-26 an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 18 fire protection and prevention section 2.1B establishing a
fire lane at Bernard M. Dgnen Park. I make a motion introduced. Second. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, yes. >> Council President Scarpa,
>> yes. Any public comment on 2963-26? Seeing none, >> okay, is there a second? Second. Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Castelino to close. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Koviaak, yes. Councilwoman Ruden yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, Council President, >> yes. >> Move to that second and final reading. 29636. >> Second. Thank you.
Okay. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President Scarlet. Yes. Okay. The motion carries. 2964-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing
chapter 17, solid waste management section 7.9, leaf disposal period 7.10, warning penalty and 12.3b, procedure for reimbursement. >> Make a motion to introduce. >> I'm second on second and volume.
>> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Councilman Kakovia. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Uh, no. >> Okay. Council President Scar. >> Yes. All right.
>> Public hearing. >> Yes. Anybody have any comments on 2964-26? >> To close. >> Seeing none. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh, Councilwoman Castelino,
>> yes. >> Councilman Kovia, yes. Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President SC, >> yes. >> Okay, the motion carries.
>> I make a motion to move 2964-26. >> Okay. >> Final reading >> is second. Thank you, Councilwoman Castle. So, >> oh, go ahead. Sorry. >> Um, I I had the same objection for this ordinance when it was originally
introduced. My feedback and comment was that the uh period indicates that um you cannot put leaf uh disposal um out in a spec in a specified amount of time. And we don't have any way of allowing our
residents to know when leaf pickup is going to be. that is not our process to inform residents. So this presents a tremendous challenge. It can be arbitrary because people just simply don't know when leak pickup is going to be done. And that's the process that was
articulated by the administration. The rationale for not publishing the list is because if people um if there's weather delays or any other kind of delays, people call and it becomes very cumbersome. Um but at the end of the day we should not be passing laws that we
can't enforce or uninforceable or that we don't have the mechanism uh to to really respond to the resident's inquiries. >> Yes. President. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> So I agree with that statement. However, I don't understand why we used to have
it where, you know, we were broken up into different zones and like, you know, certain weeks they would come that week and I guess it was like two weeks you get in the the fall area. Um, >> not too not too long ago, was it?
>> It was a while back. It's it's been changed the last several years. couple years. But yeah, but again, so I I understand why the ordinance is still on the books and and to Councilwoman's point, I just don't understand why don't we make life easy and just let people know when the leaves are coming out
because then you want to have so many leaves on the street all the time. And um >> the issue is that whether we tell them or not, they put them out there. just they just get thrown out there people and then we get the complaints and and depending and like as an example this
year unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative. It started to come down then it didn't and then all a sudden they they fell late. Um so it just put us behind the eight-ball. People just put them out there. They you know we have landscapers and and u and residents who just do it that way and
some of our streets get so chokepoint um that it becomes difficult. So we we have our crews out there. They're they're working and near the end of the year they were working I think almost pretty much seven days a week for a while. Um and then they you know for a couple several weeks I guess and then they they
were finally able to catch up and thankfully they were able to catch up before a lot of the snow came down but there was still we still had leaves down on the ground when when the first snowfall came which caused us even more difficulties and challenges >> and I could see that because um there's no schedule. So, I think, you know, if
they were I don't know. I just it worked for so many years. So, well, >> I get what you're saying, but I can't I can't schedule around when the leaves the leaves don't fall the way they're supposed to fall. I mean, it's just it's we we try to react where we can and and they do they do have a systematic
process where they start up >> the northwest side of they work their way down. >> Um, and that's the process they do. It was just a matter of, you know, sometimes they can get to and they and I got to say the crews worked extra hard. In fact, they they thought they were going to need about three or four
additional days when they and they they were able to finish it earlier than that. So, it's just but a criticism of the crews. The crews do excellent work. This is a criticism of us again and they're going to allow a an ordinance on the books that we don't enforce. we can
enforce and that practice is not such that people are aware. So I mean either the recommendation could be to amend the period extend the time period that people could put them out there. I mean they do it anyway or just remove the time period and and allow it to be
seasonal. But I I I am I am in strong objection to putting an ordinance approving an ordinance that we don't enforce one way or the other. Yeah, I have to agree with her with that. >> Okay. Can we move on? >> Yeah. >> Well, I mean, are we going to look at it
or you >> I mean, if you guys if if you guys choose not to pass it, um, we'll have to address it. That's all. I mean, the the main intent was to split it with the the different departments. Um, but you know, if if like if you want to not pass this and we have to address it, we'll have to
address them. But it's going to have to come back, you know, for another vote. make an language and the ordinance time period >> then it would go back on first reading but I mean I think an amendment is is necessary because again we don't enforce
and I think it says seven days so we can just reject it and we can you change >> yeah well we can reject we can reject it and you know what we could work with it bring it back >> so introduce that's on the against
Okay. >> We can we can work on getting that changed. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> All right. So, if you want to not pass this, that's fine. >> Yeah. And then >> we can fix it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I have a motion and a second on the floor. So, now I'm going to take the vote. Councilwoman Castelino to
approve. >> No. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> No. >> Councilwoman Ruden? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President Scarpa. >> No. >> Okay. So, the motion fails. Um, hang on a second.
Okay. Uh, ordinances on first reading 2966-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 20, streets and sidewalks section 5.2, removal by township. Is there a motion to introduce on first reading?
>> A second. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, yes. Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President Sarpa. The motion carries. >> 2967-26, an ordinance amending chapter 18 of the
revised general ordinances of the Township of West Orange to add a section regarding fire pits. Is there a motion to introduce? >> Yes. >> A second. >> Okay. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Uh to introduce to discuss. Yes. Well,
you're not going to discuss it. It's just on introduction. >> I know, but we some I would like to make an amendment. Well, >> Mr. Feero last meeting said there's no discussion on first reading. So, >> all right. >> Yes. >> I know that we've done that, but does
that >> what's your opinion? Can we just can we discuss on first reading? No, it's it's introduced and then there'll be discussion and you approve it as as written or reject it and we have to you know rewrite it and reintroduce it. >> Right. >> Okay.
>> There can be can't there be a minor changes? >> No, not it's got to be introduced as an end because the publication and whatnot. >> But we do have to ask the public if they have any. Not
>> no second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Uh, yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. >> Okay. The motion carries.
Uh 2968-26, an ordinance amending chapter 25, article I section 9.13 of the revised ordinances of the township of West Orange banning popup parties. Is there a motion to introduce on >> I'd like to make the motion to introduce.
>> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Council I'm sorry. Councilwoman Castellino. >> Uh yes. >> Councilman Kovia. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes.
>> Okay. The motion carries. 2969-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7, traffic section 32.2, restricted parking zones of the municipal code of West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on first reading? >> Make a motion.
>> A second. >> Introduce. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kovia. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Council President, >> the motion carries. Pending matters, new matters, council discussion.
>> Okay. Anybody have anything for pending matters? >> I would say it's quarter to one. >> Save it for the next. >> No. Okay. >> Move to a second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I.
>> Any opposed? The meeting is adjourned. >> Good night, West Orange. Thank you. Good night everybody.