Good afternoon, Rush Orange, and welcome to the special township council meeting for December 30th, 2025. Uh we are live here in council chambers. You are welcome to join us. Uh public comment will be heard owing in council chambers and the agenda for today's meeting can
be found online at westn.org. At this time, I'd like to turn the meeting over to our council president. >> Thank you, Mr. Fagan. Uh welcome everyone. Hope everyone uh uh had a great Christmas and a great Hanukkah. We're now uh moving to what I expect
will be the last meeting of the year. It's a special meeting. It's a very restricted uh uh agenda. So, we'd like to move along just as quickly as we can. Madame Deputy Clerk, >> 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 Star Ledger and the West Orange Chronicle on December 18th, 2025. Will everyone please stand for the
pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> The council is now in their meeting. >> Thank you. Um I think we need uh a roll call and then we can move on. Yes. >> You're just testing me, right? >> Yes. Okay. Counciloman Castelino >> present.
>> Councilwoman Ruden >> here. >> Councilwoman Scarpa >> present. >> Councilwoman Williams >> present. >> Council President Koviaak >> present. >> Great. >> Okay. The first order of the agenda is public comment. Uh as uh Mr. Fagan had
said earlier that we are accepting public comment only from uh council chambers. And uh I see one person in council chambers. I'll just uh do away with what my usual solidly is. Is there anyone who would like to speak a public
comment? Seeing none, we will move on. >> We have uh approval of minutes. Madame clerk. >> Is there a motion? >> I make a motion to approve the minutes. Okay. >> And and the executive minutes. >> Okay. >> A second.
>> All right. Council Castelino. Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Scarpa. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Uh we're now come the next agenda item is the bill list. Is there
anyone who wishes to discuss the proposed uh bill payment list? >> Yes. Um first I would just like confirmation from our uh CFO whether or not there are any retirement payouts on this bill list. Uh, Councilwoman, there
are not any retirement terminal leave payouts on this bill list, nor have there been any payments made in December. >> Okay. Can we expect any payments in on the January 6th, 2026 bill list?
>> Yes, we will have retiree payouts in January um for certain individuals that retired in November uh November 30th. So, >> and will we be provided with any backup
information in terms of those payouts? >> Yes, we can we can provide that. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um I do have some questions on on the bill list. Um some of the questions I realize because of the holiday they may
not have gone uh gone through with answers and some of the answers I got were only partial. So, um I would like to question um 1888 760
and 189705. They're both from the same vendor, MGL Printing, and they are in regard to our tax bill. One of them is for stickers um that are provided in the tax bill,
which is $1,764. There is another um invoice for $1,095 uh for reminders for taxes. And I'd like to really understand why we are doing
this and why we are paying this because that's almost $3,000. Why are we sending out stickers? First of all, for calendars when most people these days are pretty much using their phones as their calendar reminder.
>> Not sure exactly why they use the stickers themselves, but not everybody uses their phone. We have a lot of elderly who are not still techsavvy. We need to remind people. Um, according to the collector, she sends out these notices because we have to remind people that they're they're delinquent. And if
they we don't remind them properly, then we have um then we we try to collect that money, we have to make ample notice to make to try to make those payments. So, and as as far as the stickers, I don't know that answer. Do you have that?
>> And why is it so much in terms of Thank you for the answer. Why is it so much in terms of reminders? $1,000 to send out reminders seems like a lot. Is there any other way that we can do that that would be more costefficient including a rooc
call to numbers because the people same people who are using calendars are also have home phones probably still installed in their homes. >> Again, we don't know who has them and who doesn't. Um, so, uh, this is the the
method we can speak to the collector and ask her, um, if there's a way that we can improve that. And we're always looking to improve wherever we can. We do send reminders out on the website and we do send it out on social media and things of that nature. But, you know, we do have a population that doesn't always
utilize the electronic services. So, um, as to the cost, I don't know if it's for every single household. I don't believe so. I think it's those who are specific. Um, you have to remember we have over 14,500 residential properties in this town, maybe even more. Um, so I don't
know what the cost is per per um delinquent payment or per household. I don't know what that is. I I'd have to ask the the collector on that. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I know. I know the big purchase order for the 8,934. We rent out the bills here and then MGL picks them up, they fold them, they put them in the
envelopes, they mail them out, they affix the uh the labels and all that. That's the big 8,000. I'm not sure about the three up reminder um notice from the PO18760. Uh we can ask the collector.
>> Just for the record, I'm not questioning the mass mailing to every 188. >> I'm only I'm only questioning why we are still providing stickers to put on physical calendars and why we are spending so much money on reminders for
delinquent taxpayers. I mean, isn't there if they don't if they fail to pay their taxes, will won't they be getting some sort of letter in the mail anyway without sending a reminder? >> Yeah, we we're pretty aggressive about sending out Is this microphone on? Yeah,
we're pretty aggressive about sending the delinquency notices. That that is how we get people to pay. You know, the the comments we usually get are, "Oh, I I I don't even remember getting the tax bill. Thanks for sending me the the notice." And then they pay. Um, but I'll ask the collector about the reminder
notice. It it might just be something we've always done and we haven't really thought about. So, you know, maybe now we'll we'll have that conversation if if that's really necessary nowadays. >> Okay. And is this a bill for what we incurred or is this for going forward?
>> No, this this is this is the bill for the Q4 true up and then the first and second quarter of 2026. Um, so we've already incurred this bill. >> Okay. All right. So I would just like to to have a response from the tax
collector and from the administration as to why we need both of these things going forward. Okay. Um, the other the other issue I had was I I had asked about 189311, which is Garden State Environmental,
that there was radon testing both at our DPW engineering building and at the animal control to test to see if there were elevated levels of radon. Were there? >> No. >> Okay. Can can we as a council get the
report to show that there was >> the director the the show >> Okay. I I did I requested that in in the note to you. Um the other question I had was in in terms of PSEG. We have enormous PSEG bills and I just
like to know has there ever been an an energy audit done? >> Yes, there has been. It was done many years ago um on one of our former employees um who's now retired. he did the energy audit. Uh I would say probably 95% or more of our light bulbs
are LED based um because we we changed them. So one because it's it's more efficient. Two it's u it's uh they last longer and three the replacement of ballast and things of that nature. We just got rid of them. So this was done probably I I I would be guesstimating
about at least five six years ago we did this. Um and and we and any bulb that gets replaced is an LED bulb. So, and we we have met with um other people to look at cost reductions, but energy has gone up and unfortunately that that bill is for two months. I believe it was for
November and December. >> It was. >> Yeah. So, it just it's unfortunate, but it went up and um you know, we we operate with many buildings and many areas with lights. We turn off the You come by here at night time, we we [clears throat] turn off I I personally have turned off the lights a lot coming out of this place and not usually
because it's five o'clock either. >> When was the last time there was an energy audit? >> I I couldn't give you that answer right now. >> Would it be would it be appropriate to request that there that PSEG come out and do another one? >> They they are we're engaged in one right now. We just provided them
>> 18 or 24 months of bills. Um so they're >> they're going to be looking at that now and you know, they're constantly running programs because anytime that they ask for rate increases, the caveat is that they some of that money has to come back into into the community with these
different programs. So, um, we're engaging them right now. Our engineer, Zabth, uh, you know, has been giving them documents. >> Yeah, Mr. Garbalo has been working with them since probably, I guess we started in March, I guess it was somewhere around somewhere around that time we have. Yeah, we met with them. So, we're
we're engaged with them right now. We're we're always looking to save energy here. Um anything to do with the uh um the cost for us. >> Okay. So, in this bill list, I I noticed um one thing that seems to be an error,
which is that the um the bills for AKR, Antelli, Caner, and Rivera. the labor bill which is it's listed as labor. It's 186723. That's our invoice number. Um that says
that it is for labor counsel >> and that was paid at $20,000 for $20,00043.50. That was actually not labor counsel. If you look inside the bill, that was all special counsel. So the >> and and the other way around too, the
the special counsel was actually labor counsel. >> So our our purchasing agent was reviewing the records. She may have had them mixed up backwards, but she also advised me that the labor is actually above the NTE right now. So we're reviewing that. So if you want to pull that bill, that's up to you. But um
we're reviewing that bill right now. >> Well, what do we do if it's it's above the not to exceed clause? >> We have to come to you to approve it. >> Okay. So then they should be >> So we're reviewing it to So we can pull that if you like to so we we can consider at next week's meeting. >> Okay. So th both of those
should be pulled because they need to be corrected. >> Yeah, we will have them corrected for next week's meeting. >> Okay. Um the other thing is that um Mr. Seamorero's bill for 43,000 plus did not have any backup.
When you say backup, what do you mean? >> The invoice invoice. >> The invoice was not attached. We just have the bill on our bill list, but the um itemization was not attached. So, for that reason, I would like to hold that until next week when the council can
review that that charge. >> Mr. Mr. Teniac, do you even know uh to the extent of whether an invoice was a detailed invoice was provided? >> There there is one on on the um the detailed bill list uh I'm looking at um
Mr. Samaro's bill. It's a 23 page invoice. It it is online. I don't maybe maybe it got uploaded late. I I'm not sure. I'm I'm just I clicked into his bill and I see uh you know beginning on
1028 and then it's it's itemized. Um >> okay. I I went through the whole bill list and didn't see it. Is it possible to hold that just for a week so that I can review it? >> Yeah. Yeah. It's less
>> Oh, it's one week. Yeah. I I think I think that would be okay. It it is available online though if you want to look at it but yeah we can we can hold that. >> Okay. And then the other question I had was I know this is silly but we're
paying monthly fees for Johnny on the spots and I asked do these stay in the parks during the winter and the response that I got was some facilities have port have portable restrooms removed in the winter. So which ones do
which ones don't? And why do we have any at all during the winter months? >> Um, we'll pull the list. I mean, people still if they're running in the park and you know, I I know I used to run in Brookdale Park. Now I'm I'm too
overweight. But, you know, I would run in the park in the winter time and you know, you were happy to have the bathroom there sometimes. So, >> uh, but we'll ask Mr. Kho and Mr. Lator to give us a listing of those that were removed and those that are staying and the reasoning why.
>> But some of our you got to remember like Okconor Park, we had a problem with the uh the bathroom itself, so we had to put them up there. Um it has to be repaired. There's there's some issues that we had. We also had a um where we had a vandalized uh park where we had to repair that. So they may have been put up there. I don't know the whole answer
to that, but we can we can ask them with the spots, but we also put them out there so that because we also get complaints of public urination and things of that nature. So we're trying to provide something for people when we shut our buildings down in the winter. So especially the more u frequently used
parks. >> Okay. Thank you [clears throat] so much. I just have one final question which is that this special needs party and I don't I'm sorry I don't have the number in front of me. >> 60 attendees. >> No, that was for the that was for the
senior at 60. They also charge um money to attend the special needs party. So we are paying for for um over $1,000 for forimo, but they are also receiving money. So where is that reflected in the
budget that that there is also a collection of money going on? >> So the collection would go into the recreation trust fund. Um, so then we can use it to offset the bill or we can use it for future programming.
>> So is that bill being paid out of the recreation trust fund? >> Um, it right now. No, we are we charge the refreshments to the special needs uh um to the current
fund um uh to one of the parks and recreation sub accounts. So, they did not charge it to the trust account. Um but that money can be used for future programming. Um
>> should it be coming out of that trust fund since there's money collected in there for the same purpose? Um I I don't know if they collected enough to be able to handle the $1,172. So you could say like if you collected $100, maybe you would just take $100 for
it. But the the proper thing would be to charge it to the current fund and have it be a budgeted for event and then anything that you bring in you should be using then for special needs programming. Mhm. >> So, you know, I the hope is is that
whatever they collected, it's going to go back into special needs programming. >> Can can you give an analysis of how much is collected and how much is is actually charged >> for that one particular event for that? >> And the same thing with the senior
event. Is that also per a chargeable event that we are also paying for or is that just something from the township? >> I I don't know about the senior event. I can I can do the math and figure out what we brought in for the special needs event versus what we spent. I mean, that's okay.
>> It's gonna exceed it because you're not talking just about the the um the catering, but of the time that employees are spending, you know, at the event. Um but we could do that. Sorry. >> Yeah, I have a quick comment.
>> I if if it could uh I've been waiting uh if Councilwoman is finished with the floor. Uh, Councilwoman Castelino raised her hand a long time ago. Her arm is probably falling off her shoulder now. Counciloman Castelino. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, so
yeah. So, Council, I'm just listening to all this with the and I appreciate all your due diligence that you do. Um, but as far as the analyzing, I think that should be up to the department heads, number one. Um, number two, I attended the special needs party the other night
and it was very well attended, especially because they had to get uh rescheduled and so yeah, the cost probably what they charge don't doesn't cover everything. I have to bring Mr. Diniac. It was a lovely program. Um, they had a DJ there, Santa. um the the
attendees were just thrilled with the the the party and um but at the end of the day um I know it's just a supplement uh in regards to the I just my first note when
I initially raised my hand as far as the re notices the reminders for the uh tax collection my home down in South Jersey I get those stickers as Well, and um uh when my mom passed, I took care of all
her uh uh uh items in Barnagate and uh that township also um has the same sticker. So, I think that's just something that is just standard in a lot of communities and I know we have a high tax rate collection. So, um you know,
that doesn't bother me to to continue with that. In regards to the radon testing, I just had a quick question because why I I understood why we tested, but didn't we don't we have like a map with the radon testing because I know we spent over $20,000 just to have
that test. So, my question is like didn't we already have that mapped out that there wasn't radon there like that we went, you know, we went went ahead and tested. So, that's where I was a little confused with that testing. one was spending over $20,000 to have a test and uh wouldn't we have already
known that answer or >> Yeah. >> So that is my question on that bill. >> Mr. Smaldo, before you before you answer, I just want to make sure to confirm that it was $20,000 because the number in the bills was uh a little a little more than 2,000. Yeah, >> it was 2,000. >> Okay. So So
>> Oh, I thought it [clears throat] was 20. >> No, it was 2,000. So >> Okay. So, we had a report last year or this year actually. It's the December 30th. It's still 2025. Um, we had a report earlier this year with some concerns with uh indoor air quality at
the DPW garage um that we had to test for um not only did we test for leaks to the floor with offging from pro possibly from the property, we also had concerns about mold issues and was also requested to check for um radon within the
building itself. And it was a concern I think was actually raised here in the council chamber about um you know asbestous and things of that nature which we also had that checked as well. So um and thankfully >> thankfully all of the levels of everything we tested for was well below
the dangerous level or concern for for human um activity or any anything else. So, so these tests were performed in being proactive based on response from our staff and concerns from the uh the local bargaining collective bargaining unit. And so we did this um immediately
and when we found out and thankfully um you know this didn't nothing came about. Now this the radon test was an was [clears throat] basically an afterthought. Um it wasn't part of the original concern. So we decided it would be best to do the radon as well. >> Okay. And so but everything is
satisfactory to for our staff and for all the facilities that we have that anybody entering any one of those facilities on that particular property. >> These were [clears throat] personal you wear the the device on you. So it's to
simulate whatever you're breathing in the device is is testing for. So they're wearing the employee certain employees wearing them um for the testing period. In fact, we have the that was done that test the indoor air quality was performed I believe in May and we had 16
individuals wear them throughout and it was like the normal day. Um what's what sparked it was that we actually had an indoor air quality tested I think in January February of this year that it had an elevated level when the building was closed on a Saturday. So we wanted
to make sure that um there wasn't a a concern. So we that's why we performed the test while it was occupied. The building was occupied. We have since also scheduled another test. It's going to be performed um in the next couple weeks. I believe we're scheduled to do for the indoor air quality itself. Again, we're going to continue to
monitor because just because we found out that was something was safe at one point. It's in fairness to our staff that we we continue to monitor, make sure that they're working in a safe environment. So, um so we have that we had that already scheduled back. I think we probably scheduled that in August for
this this uh January. It's going to it's probably going to occur in the next couple weeks and it's going to be the same thing replicated um for the test that was performed in June where we're going to have asked staff to wear the uh the devices and and walk around the building for for the 8 hour period or so. >> Okay. So, that was the expensive test.
So, the radon wasn't as expensive, but that but that is old. But wasn't there some kind of map we had in that whole area of what what data >> that's more that more has to do with the the the property itself where we're we're working at looking at we we've
identified that you know there there may be concerns with the soils and the contaminations and things of that nature but none of that has permeated or entered into into our building. So, and that's still um we have an LSRP along with the D is monitoring with us and our and our own staff and and um and some vendors that are monitoring the sites
between the Barton Press site and 25 Lakeside. Okay. And then has Mr. Simar, he hasn't been paid yet at all. Just that 43,000 is is Yeah. I Councilwoman I I don't know if I want to hold up his payment till next week. I mean, he's going to be
with us. So I if there's something come some kind of discrepancy that you may have we could always credit you know get a credit. So I I just you know he just started it's a new attorney and the information is there on the one drive. So I just going to be supportive of
paying his bill today. Thank you council president. >> Okay. Counciloman Scar. >> Yeah. I just wanted to say um in reference to um Councilwoman Ruden's um comments on you know they're very small amounts for these parties and things but
this is indicative of what's been going on for a long time. I know when I reviewed the recreation it was almost impossible to understand how these accounts are moved around and what the actual costs are. So given that we're do starting on a new foot now in the new year with a new budget, I'd like to see
all of these line items reflect actual costs and let's start doing this right. So yeah, I can't I can't take any receipts that come in from the party and offset it against the current fund. So just the
accounting doesn't allow for that. We will, if that's what you want, we'll give you like more of a P&L for the party. >> Yeah. >> To be accountable. I'd like them to take the responsibility for their departments and start, you know, acting as in a
financial, you know, prudent manner. I think it's important that they do that. >> I think they do already. I think they do already. So, >> we will talk to um Director Kho and and
ask that that information be provided. Um you know, what was taken in versus what went out, >> right? And uh just to respond >> if I could. So, sorry, >> Councilwoman Scarper, you still have a little Oh, you don't. Okay. Counciloman, >> thank you. Um just to respond to Council
Councilwoman Castalino's remark, this is in no way disparaging any of these parties. Um they're important for the seniors. They're important for the special needs. This is only an accounting question. >> Yeah. No, I totally understand. Yeah. >> Okay. Um the other thing that I did ask
on this bill list that I did not get a response for was um there's a lot of overtime both for police, fire, as well as public works. A lot of overtime. And is there some way to provide
um an accounting to the council what that is being used for? Um, when I asked about the public works overtime, I was given the answer that it had to do with recent storm emergencies, but those recent storm emergencies were just this
week over Christmas. So, I'm just wondering what recent storm emergency would the public works be accounting would would would have cost us that money and that is almost $28,000. So, there were six storm related events
that our DPW responded since Thanksgiving. It wasn't just the two. There's been ice and everything else. This is there's been six events that we've had to in the last five or six weeks. And sometimes you don't see the DPW. They're out in the middle of the night. The the these the you know this
unfortunately we can't time the storms. Um, so, um, and when there's a need and for the public roadway to be safe for the travel of everybody, sometimes we just have to send them out there to salt. It may you may not see plows, you may not see, um, snow banks, but um, and
also we've had some um, we've had a late leaf drop this year. Um, some of the citizens, and I apologize now if if your neighborhood's still affected, um, but there's we had a late leaf drop this year, and the crews are still working to get all the leaves up. So, we're we're we're catching up to make the street
safe and it and trust me, the the the crews want the leaf off the street because it makes their job easier with plowing because we they take pride in their their curb to curb um uh plowing and um so we we had some struggles with that and they're working to catch up with it. So, there there are just some
some u required times that we have to pay overtime. Um and you know, as we mentioned earlier in the year with the um when we were discussing the budget, you know, we don't know, we can't predict the weather and and unfortunately we've had a pretty um stormy December this year. Um so that's
that's that's pretty much what we had to deal with. >> So this is just a question of why there is overtime, what is it being used for? Not that you know I I know that that our departments do a great job. I'm just asking what is incurring this overtime.
So when I'm asking these questions, is it possible to get an accounting of what the money is being used for? >> Yeah, we you know because we we do everything with time sheets. So we could provide the days um that you know the
overtime is really coming from. Um police and fire is a little bit different. Um, it's it can be certain events, but a lot of times it's it's more of just a a manpower thing. And I say manpower, I mean inclusive of both
genders, but a manpower thing, especially around the holidays, people are taking vacations. So, people are getting held over and that's generating overtime. Um, but >> minimal staff, there's minimal minimal staffing in both departments, >> right? So >> both chiefs can pro have a a good handle
on on their overtime and we can ask >> they can provide that. I think they've provided in the past and then DPW will give you a a daybyday um of you know when those overtime spikes occurred. >> Thank you. because I I think that you know as we discussed in the budget
analysis that >> we have significant overtime in fire and police and if this could be relieved by hiring more more personnel um you know I'd like to see that kind of an analysis done to see if we can save money that
way. Just two more questions on the bills. Um I had asked about the salt capacity and I was told that there's an enormous amount of salt that was just being purchased. I'm just wondering are we are we purchasing this during prime time?
>> Um we're not buying from from like third party vendor. We're buying it from the source. So we're getting it at the best price. We have bought from vendors in the past. I think last January um we ended up having to buy like 200 tons from from a vendor and
and we paid probably more than we should have. But no, this is >> that was an emergency. Just >> that was an emergency. Yes. You know, this is advance ordering it, buying it down, you know, comes from the port down in New York and um so we're getting it at the the market rate prices everybody
else is getting it >> being proactive. Yeah. And I think we can hold about 700 tons. >> Yeah. I we have two we have two salt domes. Um one's up at the recycling center and the other is at located 25 Lakeside. >> I think it's 700 tons. I think it's
about 700 ton. We just we just made another purchase on or ordered another round of salt on Saturday. I think it was 50 tons for each place. >> 500 tons was all >> right. 500. Yeah. I zero. >> So I'm just wondering was that purchase
that was made on December 27th again? Was it prime time costs? Because it it's in the holiday season. LA when when I first came on, this was one of the first things we were we all all were hit with was that emergency um purchase
and how high it was. >> This wasn't an emergency procurement. They just placed the order with with our company and okay, our vendor just to go get it. The problem is when we don't if like on Saturday we had the storm they utilize a lot of the DPW crews util
utilize a lot of salt and we have to have it replenished because we don't know anticipation such as like we weren't sure if we were going to get hit with another event on Sunday. Um and it turned out luckily it was a very brief uh glazing but it was there was we were worried there was going to be freezing
rain on Sunday night. We need to get this stuff ordered because we're not the only municipality. We're not the only government and we're not and there's also private contractors that that grab the salt up. So, we have to we've we've had experiences in the past where we were without salt and it it becomes
catastrophic especially for our hilly regions of the the municipality. >> So, number one, I was surprised that this is actually Morton salt, >> which is what you know what we all buy in the in the store. So, that was kind of funny. And number two, I was
surprised that our contractors like Gowski um actually use our salt because I compared this with other municipalities. And in other municipalities, many of the contracted vendors provide their own salt. And since we're paying almost $500
an hour for some of our vendors, shouldn't this be included? >> They'll pass on the cost plus 10 15%. um if if it was that way. So, at least we control um a pretty significant expense
for their operation, you know, the salt itself because they're not going to they're not going to charge us what they paid, you know, they're they're going to they're going to >> put an increase. >> Yeah. So, have we have we looked into
any other vendors that that supply the the um salt with their um truck? >> I don't I don't know if our RFP gave that option um to give a price with
supplying salt. I'd have to look back. I I don't know off the top of my head. I mean, we do send out RFPs for the the plowing services. Okay. I I just don't know if we've stated it in the RFP like give us a price for not for providing your own salt and give us a price for
using our salt. I I really don't know if >> so we we did not um put that in our bid to supply the salt. Um we can make it an option to see what the cost is. But at the end of the day, we pay $63 to $67 a ton. Um and it if they charge us more for that, that wouldn't be efficient for
us to pay for the upcharge. even if at 15% you know you're you're talking significant money over the tonnage. So that would be the uh what we'd have to worry you know if we can we can maybe put that as an option and select it but this goes out this goes out as a public
bid and these are the the vendors who who respond >> and we're sort of all buying it from the same place. you know, barges come in and >> and just so you know, when when they don't hold our salt, when when they come in to do the work from us, they come up to our salt domes, we load it on there
for them, and at the end of the of their shift, they have to bring back what was unused and we put it back in. We replenish back in. They don't take it with them and hold it because they're contracted for us. I think the Len Park takes from our >> Lelen Park does, but we have an agreement. We have an agreement with
Lelen Park that we um we entered into in 2010. We meet with them annually and that's part of um uh they they take it so that we don't have to go in there. So that's part of the offset that we did. >> Okay. And then finally, I would like to pull the supplemental bill for the easy
pass payment. I've pulled that before and I hope that um given the fact that this was um a bill that was used for somebody who was not um showing up to work at that time that this not be paid. I hope my
council colleagues support me on that. >> What bill are we talking about? Uh this is a bill that was on um two previous council meetings and it was it was pulled and it's it's on our supplemental bill list which is from past bill list
things that got rejected. So uh this is replenishment of of easy pass for the police department. >> I believe it was $29 and it was $200. >> No, $200 is what we paid to replenish the account. The charge you're talking about was $29. I think any any further discussion of this should go to close
session. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm [clears throat] requesting that we pull this. Once again, this is coming out of petty cash from the police and I don't believe that that we should be paying this bill. >> Okay. So, we have two requests uh for
specific bills. Before we get there, I just want to um mention the response to the uh public works overtime was I can't remember the exact wording, but it was virtually all of it was weather
related. But let's remember we do a very nice uh prech Christmas uh holiday events both uh at uh uh at one of the schools and and also at here uh uh at
town hall and I'm sure that that's part of the overtime because I saw public works people there at both places. So >> yeah, it's it's it's part of it. Yeah. >> Yes. So >> thank you. I just wanted to remind the public uh from the administration if possible um that there are some
mechanisms where you can be informed about incidents that are happening around town whether it be cancellations. Um I saw a lot of people on social media indicating that they had not had their leaves picked up and was uh expressing some frustration because with the snow
removal it did push the leaves back into people's driveways. Um but just wanted to remind the public that we do have online um opportunities where you can register for those municipal announcements. Um so if you could just share that information with the public that would be helpful.
>> Yeah, we have we have several mechanisms. One, we have we utilize social media and and also the uh the sign board up front which doesn't always be seen by everybody, but we put whatever messaging is out there is is on our website. Also, we have a scroll that goes across the top. Um we also have the
report of concern. um anybody when when when the public puts in a report of concern, it it is sent to about 18 different department heads, the mayor's office and my office and so on and so forth. Um and somebody will respond and
you you'll see um that they will get a response right away. Um DPW in particular, the police and fire are they have may not be the the uh department head itself, but it's right into their administrative and they respond. You'll see especially with the our our our our
majority of of concerns that are reported are typically the leaves or the snow or sometimes it's parking, you know, police related and things of that nature. So, um and just to explain about the um I I briefly explained before about the leaf pickup. Unfortunately, we had a a late drop and our crews have
been working around the clock. We don't publish schedules. We've been asked by the public to public a schedule, publish a schedule. The reason we don't, and I asked this of the of the the DPW administration staff, is that um because
if we say we're coming to Ma 123 Main Street on November 30th, and there was no leaves drop, we're not going to go there. Now, we're going to be behind for 123 Whittley, you know, the next day. So, to say that we're going to be in the neighborhood, it it became more of a challenge because we would deal with
more complaints. It says here you're going to be on this date on that time and you weren't here. It's sometimes it again it's predicated on the on mother nature and the weather. So we we do keep a list of where we're going. Um I know a
majority of the streets have been uh are complete now. Um they've been working through it. Typically I from experience we we've finished the streets somewhere like in mid December or so but again we had six weather events so that has
pushed us back a little bit. Um thankfully it was warmer yesterday and um hopefully the snow will start to melt that our crews can go out there and pick up the group. They're going to start picking up anyway, but hopefully with less weight and less tonnage with the with the snow that's attached to it. So
um but anybody who needs anybody who has a personal problem, they can call either the DPW number direct, they can call the mayor's office, they can call the administration, and we we will be able to address that for them. And then there's also a number where you can register to get alerts, whether it be
your cell phone. >> Yeah, that's on the that's on the main page of of the town's website. And if they and if anybody has difficulty um looking for that, they can, like I said, you can call the mayor's office because they kind of oversee the whole um website and they can they can help guide them with that. >> And just for public consumption, the
mayor's office number is 973-3254,000. >> No, that's the police desk. >> Okay. 4100. >> That's 4100. Yes. 4,100 >> 4100. >> They can call 4,000 too, but you know they're going to get a police officer and that's a non-emergency police number and remember that 911 is the emergency number. So, >> thank you. >> Yep.
>> Councilman Castalino, >> thank you. Sorry not to belabor the discussion, but Mr. Smile, a quick question. Um, when could people put their leaves out until? Because I've been receiving phone calls asking me that I tell them to call in. Um, but and
years ago, it wasn't exact date, but there was a week that your section of town that they would say they're coming that week. I'm not sure if we want to look back into that. Gives DPW a whole week to get to that. Uh, >> yeah, you know,
>> typically we wait till the middle of the January uh to try and get that done. But if there are case by case issues, we, you know, we will we will address them as as needed. Um, you know, we we try to encourage everybody to get them done. I don't think most people want to be out there in February raking leaves anyway in their guard land and those who have
landscapers are not going to be out there. I know I use a landscaping service and he's done for the season. He's not coming back till the spring. Um, so >> um you so if there is a case by case, if there's concern where somebody puts leaves out there, they can just call the DPW and ask them about scheduling.
But you're right, the the leaves did fall really late this year, which messed up a lot of uh things. It >> just it's through and we're not the only ones, you know. We we we've talked to our neighbors, you know, um and you know, that's the that's the issue we have. Um you know, just like everybody else, just it's just mother nature at
her finest. >> And I just had one more comment on the on the overtime, and I really do appreciate the police department, our new chief. Um the day we had the uh Manura lighting celebration uh was the same day that you know we all
woke up into uh the day before with that uh um horrible um incident in uh those murders in Australia. So I I give kudos to our police department for always making sure they have enough security on
for all our public events which is which is important to our residents. So, um, you know, so I could I could see that's just wanted to share another example of of, you know, the needs that we have here in our in our community and, uh, and thanks to DPW2 for a great job with
the this season. It it was, uh, very icy and hopefully, uh, come January, it won't be as cold. Uh, thank you, council president. >> Thank you. So, we have uh two requests related to the bills uh that I think
needs to go to a vote and uh a roll call. The first one was the discussion of Mr. Seerero's the town attorney's bill and the discussion, if I correct me if I'm wrong, uh we wanted to wait for a week or so so that we can take a look at
the uh invoice and and check that. Uh, Councilwoman Castelino says she would prefer a vote uh to pay the bill now as opposed to waiting a week because we know where Mr. Samero works
>> and often times he's pardon me. >> Uh, no, not yet. And the second one is uh the supplemental bill that uh Councilwoman Ruden uh talked about and uh I think the first one the first issue with Mr. Simo's bill will be pretty easy
to uh address. So, we could do that now. Uh and then we can go on to the supplemental uh charge. Do I hear a motion for uh to pay Mr. Samero's uh bill now uh and then catch up if we need
to a week from now? >> I I'd just like to I I I have I am looking at it right now. I just would like to mention that that it should have been put up before. >> Yeah. I don't know when it was was put up. Um >> I'm looking at it right now and
>> it was there this morning. >> Okay. Well, I pointed it out a couple of days ago that it was not not up. So, maybe it was put up this morning. >> So, are you saying >> So, I'm not going to I'm not going to
I'm not going to with to request that this be withheld. >> Great. So, we will pay Mr. Samero's bill as part of uh But hold on just a second. we also need to uh address the second issue and uh I just want to make sure we all
understand uh sort of what's gone on and and where we stand right now. Uh so I would ask Councilwoman Ruden to sort of recount this, but I I do want to just uh hone in on the issue of how do we stop
hanging a bill uh absent any need to gather more information. So, in other words, why should we pull this again if it's just going to keep coming back over and over again? So, Councilwoman Ruden, we can make the motion. If you want to make a motion,
>> I mean, I don't know why it keeps coming back to us. We've pulled it. If there is enough support to continue to pull it, it should not come back to us and this will have to be paid in some other manner. I I just want to remind you that I also um pulled the two bills regarding
Antelli Caner because we were charged we charged the wrong accounts and that needs to be corrected. Yeah, I think we acknowledge Council President, I apologize. >> Please. I think we acknowledge that there's an error um and that we should pull that to correct that for the January 6 meetings.
>> Okay. >> So, is the administration pulling that or do we need to think about Okay. Okay. Great. With your permission, we're okay. Yeah. >> Uh and uh getting back to the first bill that we referenced, Council Ruden, so your your proposal to sort of end this
sort of hanging is to pay it some other way and it's what a charge of $29. >> So the way it works is that we have an open purchase order with Easy Pass. It's for the entire fleet. We pay it on a $200 clip each time with a purchase order and it's a per use that gets
deducted. Um we're down right now we're down to almost under $50 for the use since the last payment whenever that was. I don't know exactly when. Um so the issue at hand, the the councilman's issue is about $29 that a a specific vehicle or specific tag was was being
used. So this isn't just for one vehicle. This bill is for the entire fleet. If we don't pay this bill, they shut us off. It's not easy for us to get our easy pass back. So that's up to you guys if you want to pay the bill or not. But um you know I'll leave that up to you >> council.
>> Okay. This was entirely to one one vehicle and one user and it was not for $29 but we can it has now been completely redacted on online. Um but these were for costs that were
not for municipal um events. They were not used for attending something that was representing the municipality. >> Excuse me. I'm gonna I'm going to renew my advice that this is close session
material. If it's going to go any go on any any further, I I think everybody understands what council councilwoman is saying and um if you choose not to pay it, that's fine, but I think any further discussion is inappropriate in open session.
>> Uh okay. So now the council faces uh a question. Do we want to go into executive session to further discuss this? Do we want to uh take this vote and perhaps uh avoid uh an executive session if the council
majority so determines. Um >> I make a motion to call the vote. >> I second. >> Madame deputy clerk. Is excuse me. Is there any further discussion? >> There can't be. This is a This is nonate.
>> We can't talk about it. Can't talk about it. >> We can't talk about it because Mr. Pastor >> No, because we call the vote. >> Oh, okay. I see what you're saying. >> And is this just a vote on this issue alone? >> Yes. Yes. Uh Mr. Pastor, what I think
the motion is is to decide uh through a council vote whether to pay this bill or not. >> Okay, good. I just I'm just clarifying for the record. Thank you. Okay. Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. >> Councilwoman Scarpa, >> no. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Koviaak, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> No. Executive session. Uh,
are there any other pending bills at this point? If not, we can uh also, I guess, have a consent vote for paying all of the bills. >> Okay. So, >> consent. >> Consent. >> Okay.
>> Consent. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Consent. >> Okay. >> Except for the ones that were pulled by Antelli Caner >> as amended. Yes. Thank you. Okay. We're moving on to resolutions
now. Uh 289-25. It's a resolution authorizing transfers between budget appropriations. This is uh uh an end of the year annual practice that we do. It's to uh move funds to
account for either uh under spend of the budget or overspend of the budget. And [clears throat] that trs it up. and uh we then meet the state law. Uh Mr. Datiniac, would you like to present anything or answer any of the questions?
>> You have the floor. >> If you have any questions, um the general I think you gave a a perfect explanation of what this is. um it's permitted in the last two months of the fiscal year and then in the first 3
months of the next fiscal year um you can make what we call appropriation reserve transfers um which would also be 2025 appropriations. Um the reason behind these transfers is to uh either
to bolster um budget accounts that I believe we're going to get bills for uh and also to cover budget accounts that we are either overexpended on or are dangerously low.
Um that's the reason from the from to two. >> Sounds good. I have some questions. Does anybody else uh have any? >> Yes. >> Counciloman Ruden. >> No, go ahead. I'm just wondering why are some uh some accounts overexpended
and aren't isn't that the whole purpose of the budget process to avoid that? >> Yeah. So the salary and wage ones that that would be from
um OT incurred u like spec es especially with police and fire SNW uh and public works um I wanted to bolster it up in case we had any more storms which of course we did uh in this last week um
street salt and chloride uh we had POS out there that, you know, if we pay on them, we would end up overexpending. So, I wanted to put more money into the street salt and chloride budgets. And really, the the the worst one is the hydrants. Um,
>> yeah. Where did that go? >> We just we didn't budget properly for hydrants. And some of the early expenditures that should have been charged against 2025 are actually charged against the 2024. So, when I fixed the those first three months of
expenditures, there's your 20 well, it's like 201,000 in um for those first three months. So, that's why I had to uh move money into hydrants. >> Okay. >> Litigation. Um we we just had a lot more
bills related to special counsel and uh so we needed more money for that. Uh, and then the municipal election came in at 42,000 versus the 33 that I think I budgeted. Um,
so >> Councilwoman Ruden, you >> Yeah. I I just like the public to to know that we have over $600,000 in overtime for police and fire. I assume that that's what that is.
>> Yeah, it's it's it's mostly overtime. Yeah, it's mostly overtime. Um, yeah, overtime is is is a is a big thing. Um, with with most municipalities and and their their public safety, um, they're typically the highest paid
employees and they generate the most overtime hours. So, um, >> right. So that's why I'm asking, is it possible that the that the administration review this because this is not just our total $650,000
of overtime. This is >> this is just >> this is just >> in excess of what we already anticipated, which was quite generous to begin with. So, is there some way to take a look at this and decide whether or not we need to hire more
firefighters, more policemen, and avoid this type of over overtime? >> Yeah, it's it's it's something that we think about all the time. Um, you know, [clears throat] we've been meeting with our department heads in these last few weeks about the 2026 budget. Um, you
know, we'll talk about this further with with the two chiefs. Um, I know Joe's got his hand up. Um, we tried to address some of these issues when we negotiated contracts back in 2024. You know, it's something that
keeps me up at night and it's something that keeps up most CFOs. Um, and and sometimes you can't control it when you have like a big event. Um, and other times you can control with new hirings or changing the the shift structure. Um,
but most of those things like changing shift structure, we got to go back to the unions and get them to agree because those contracts contemplate what the shifts are. Um, so I wish it was as easy to say there's just no overtime. Um, but with minimal
staffing and with a lot of time off that we all get, we all get a lot of time off. Um, but you know, police and fire, they they get the most. Uh, and then they get comp time and they can take comp time. And I know I'm probably getting lasers from the officer uh in
here. But, and I'm not holding against it. I'm saying that's that's the part of the contract. And they get time off. And when they take time off, we have to bring someone in. It's not like if someone in my office takes time off, you know, we just deal with it. Um, but we have minimal staffing. We have to keep
our our people safe and part of keeping them safe is making sure that, you know, they're staffed properly. So, what ends up happening is people take time off and and and you're you're starting to incur those overtime hours.
um we think about it like we really did and we we tried to make some strides in the contracts um and and we look at the staffing and I think with like fire in particular it's
getting better because we did hire a lot um the staff is younger um the the steps were put in place through one through a um there was mediation with the FMBA years ago whereby there was extra steps added to accumulating their their their
vacation time and things of that nature. So, it takes longer to to accumulate more of the vacation time. Um, as as Mr. Diniac pointed out, there's comp time. Comp time is a perpetual off time. If if an officer or firefighter earns comp time, they're entitled to use it under
the federal law as long as there's a reasonable notice to take off that time. And because of the uh the needs of emergency services, there are minimal staffings and uh we have to have officers and firefighters on duty to serve the public. And nobody nobody wants to hear that they can't get an
ambulance because um you know somebody's on a vacation day. That that's not their problem. Their problem is that they need an ambulance. Our our problem is we have to staff it. So um based on the contracts and and time off, things of that nature, that's where we we run into those kind of concerns. So um and and we
have negotiated through the in the past through contracts, but that you know if we want to we want to reduce those numbers of time off that's that's at a cost too. What do we pay? The unions not going to just say oh yeah just take it away from us there. There's going to be a cost that's associated with it. So it's that's what collective bargaining
is about. So, and we're looking at the hours because obviously the rates are going to keep going up as salaries go up, but you know, we're focused in now on the hours, like how many hours a year. Um, that's that's what we're looking to to lower. And, you know,
we'll try to do our best with the chiefs to make sure that that mixes the younger, lower paid individuals are the ones that should be getting the most overtime. But again, there's seniority rules there and and there is a lot going on and it
is a it is a beast and >> and overtime is not usually staffed on the most junior because that again goes to collective bargaining and unfair labor practice. Most the each department has their own way of administering it so it's fair and equitable to so sometimes
you get a senior member who's on 25 years and sometimes you get somebody who just was hired. So it's just a matter of the rotation. So, >> Councilwoman, you still have the floor. I'm done. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes, I'm done. >> Okay. Counciloman Castelina, you had
your hand up. >> Yeah, thank you, Council President. So, just Yeah, just a quick couple quick notes and this is where it's hard to get it balanced out. Um, I know the fire chief had actually made a big cut in his overtime. Um so again we asked him to do
that and he actually needed 341 back litigation we also made the cut the extra cut than what administration wanted and that seems to you know we had to put that back. So, you know, I guess to to my colleagues point, you know, get
keep, you know, continuing with the analytics on these items uh as we moved into uh to early budget season cuz um you know, we were able to make the cuts this past year because we did the budget so late, which we can't cuz I don't want
to get another fine. And um number one and number two I I mean we we need to leave that little bit of cushion because as we see at the end of this year it was a lot colder um and uh with DPW and the need for more salt um we're in
December's past it hasn't been this this bad. So um one last question uh with the electricity bill. How do we see that happening with the new governor coming in? Are we going to see any relief? What's the word out
there with the state? Is anything going to happen for us? >> So, the only thing out there has just been sort of very general um quips in the in the press about day one going to reduce the energy rates.
But I haven't received anything from DGS. I haven't received anything from the GFOA on any sort of real programs that are going to be in place to reduce the, you know, the the supply charges. So, I mean, if I hear something, I'll
tell all of you, and I'm sure we'll we'll all find out at the same time. I I I don't know how it's going to work because a lot of it has to do with that uh connection between Pennsylvania and Ohio. Um, you know, where the majority of the power plants are and and that's
what's driving it. The data centers that are being built all around here that are driving the the increased need for electricity. Um, so I don't know. Um, we're probably going to have to absorb it in the 26 budget and and hopefully
there's going to be something from Trenton. So, I don't know. >> Thank you. >> We'll be shocked if there is. >> Yeah, me too. >> Council, >> yeah, two things. Just wanted to u make a reference since we're talking about
energy consumption um that there are some different programs that are available especially to the homeowners. There's a solar landscape which is an energy program uh where you can invest in solar not attached to your home but
attached to the grid and does give you up to a 30% discount off of your utility bill. Um that's a program that we hosted at the West Orange Art Center Gallery. uh in October, November of last year and we had people sign up. Um and again that
does give you some relief. In addition to that, I just wanted to um make sure that we are aware as well as the public um is that we had a fire in one of our homes this week. Um, and when we talk
about emergency and response time, uh, for our fire department, our first responders, our police department, um, we have a stellar department, um, who does not waste resources and or funds. And unfortunately, at that fire, house
fire, we did have a death um, and two others that were injured. So when we talk about uh again fire safety, police, first responders, um we have an excellent department and um I I am very proud of what they do in our community
uh and their performance. I just wanted to put that on the record. Thank you. >> I concur. Let's see. >> Hey, >> I've experienced our fire department. >> You you >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Go ahead. uh you've answered most of my
questions I had. I just had a few more. There was a uh significant transfer from central insurance and I was just wondering what happened there especially given what we're seeing with our central insurance that's on next on the agenda.
>> Right. So we we budget obviously for um workers compensation is part of that line um where we're self-insured. So, you know, we we put workers compensation money in there and then we have to budget for deductibles um in case any claims are settled and
we're forced to pay out co insurance and deductibles. So, we always have to put more in there um than just the assessment andor special assessment um that we have through our joint insurance fund. Um so, we were lucky enough to
have that uh to be able to transfer. >> Okay. Uh the other question I had was on how uh it worked out that we were able to transfer $125,000 from our shade tree OE.
>> Um so we we did have some excess money and we still have the tree money protected um from there. Um but we did have some excess OE money in the 2025. Um so we are preserving the the tree bid in there. Um, this is really just
everything else. >> Okay. Do you anticipate having another surplus like that in 2026? >> No. >> No. Okay. >> No. >> Uh, and just the last question I had was how we were able to uh it may just be another overbudgeting on the general
trash collection. We had $275,000 there. So, >> yeah, because the general trash the garbage trash collection is made up of contractual amounts, but then it's also the tonnage. Um, so that's the variable there is the tonnage. Um, and that's that's what we had.
>> Did the price go down or did the tonnage go down? >> No, just the tonnage. Yeah. >> Wow. Okay. >> We sort of budgeted at a worst case scenario. So the the the summer collections are usually the largest as there's the most bulk. Um, so we
annualize like a summer collection as in terms of tonnage. Um, so every obviously every month is not going to be the same, but if we try to budget it at a worst case scenario. >> Yes. And if I could just follow up on the discussion we had about overtime with the uniform services. I share the
same concern as everybody else expressed here. >> What we have to keep in mind is what is the alternative? The alternative is to hire police uh who who who quickly become uh expensive. they're delivering the value, but they become quickly
expensive, and then you have uh all of the costs associated with the long-term police or fire. So, you're trying to compare uh a somewhat amorphous uh future liability with what's going on now. And uh so, the question is, as was
referenced, do we hire more people and that will uh reduce the um overtime, which is what we're seeing with the fire department? And I I I agree that perhaps it's now time to take a look at this cuz it's the numbers are are are pretty high
and I I know there are there's a great deal of demand uh by the public and by us uh for police uh to handle a lot of particularly traffic and parking uh situations at least until we get uh a new capability uh for parking. So that
may be something we want to take a look at uh in the near in the near future. I I concur and and I know that I sound pretty negative about public safety when I'm talking about OT, but you're right. I mean, we do have one of the best police and fire departments in not just
the county, in the state. Um, so I'm very supportive of our our our public safety services and it's just sort of the kerogyny CFO and me to talk about overtime, you know, in the way that I do. But um you know we we will look at
all different solutions and it doesn't necessarily have to be um hiring. It could be like I said scheduling you know the the way that we schedule our officers. There's different scheduling methods um that can theoretically cut down on overtime. Um you know but we'll
look at every option with the chiefs. >> Sounds good. Uh, I don't think we have a motion pending, but do I hear a motion for to approve 289-25? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Madam Deputy Clerk.
>> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Scarpa, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Koviaak, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Thank you. Uh, now we're to consider resolution proposed resolution 290-25,
resolution approving Central Jersey GIF, short for joint insurance fund uh for a three-year contract to run from 2026 to 2028. And uh in the process of switching our
insurance carrier uh for the first time, I don't know, in 15 or 20 years, we're going to save uh significant amounts of money. Uh is there uh a motion? >> So move >> and I will second
>> discussion. >> Yes. >> Please. >> First of all, I'd like to thank the administration. I remember raising this issue during um budget. >> Yes. And I questioned why we were not looking at some other form for um municipal insurance. And I appreciate
that this has been done and I understand that there'll be over a hundred thousand $100,000 worth of savings. Is that correct? >> Correct. Yes. >> Okay. Um so my question is why is this a three-year
contract? Um I I think it's in our best interest to lock in a rate. Um but we do have our >> Yeah, we do. So just to give the the public a little background um and we do have two of our supportive staff here
who helped us tremendously through this process. So >> so as the council president uh indicated, we've actually believe I believe we actually been closer to 30 years with the Garden State Municipal GIF. Um we've been an active member with them for many many years. Our contracts
are typically three years. Um and um so we went we started looking at this process back in May with Mr. Zack Edelman who's on the on the on the phone and Mr. Peter Carrero of Mr. Elements with Fair View Insurance and Mr. Carrero
is with the Allied Risk the risk manager for our for the township. Um some even met when we have our insurance commission meetings. Um and we worked collectively with our with the administration and them to to try and get um the best price. Um we we identified all of our assets, all of our
potential liability, all of our properties and things and so on so forth. And um and this took us a while. We had to wait for the GIFs to look at um or the other companies we went to look at to uh get pricing. They don't
like to do it till later in the year. This is why it's unfortunately coming to you late now and we apologize but this this wasn't something that was done overnight. This was a six-month process. So, um and we went out to to search and and I think what would be best at this point is I gave you the background is to
allow maybe Mr. Edelman to discuss a little bit more about the insurance carriers themselves um and let him explain to you what where we looked and how we looked. So, Mr. Edelman, if you're available to provide that to the council, I would appreciate a summary real quick. >> Sure. Well, um, thank you very much for
having us. Uh, I just wanted to say that back in May, the administration let the Garden State Joint Insurance Fund, the current carrier, uh, know that you'd be seek seeking alternative quotes. Uh, we then went out to five different
insurance companies. Um, essentially we pit them against each other and we came back with two solutions. the uh one was the incumbent which was Garden State and the next compet and the competitive quote that we got was from the Central Jersey GIF and that's the one that
yielded $100,000 savings slightly more. Um, and to answer the question in regards to the three-year contract, joint insurance funds require three years, not the like if this was with a private insurance company, it would be an annual contract, but with joint
insurance funds, all of the members across the state are all uh within the three-year contracts. >> Mr. Edelman, thank you so much um for explaining that. Can you be more specific about how much this is going to
save the taxpayers? >> Uh, sure. So, you had a current your your last year's assessment was 1.3 million. The current joint insurance carrier, which was Garden State Joint Insurance Fund, came in at a price of
1.8 million. And uh you know again putting them out to bid and pitting them against each other through negotiations and um I have to say that the the loss control that's done by Peter was very helpful in terms of of getting better
rates. But essentially it went from 1.8 and the competitive quote came out to 1.6 when yielded about about $100,000 savings on that. And that's how the uh that's how the savings uh was was
developed and and that's how we we we got what we got in sorry Zach the additional piece to this because we're comparing the just the assessments um there is a special assessment that was issued by the Garden State Municipal GIF
our current GIF um that we have to pay back in the amount of 1.1 million. So if we stay with the garden state municipal gif, we would be paying that over the course of 10 years um with no interest because we are leaving. We are
responsible for making that special assessment payment upfront essentially. So what the central chief is doing for us is giving us a loan, paying off the 1.1 million, and we're paying them back over seven years
at 3.99% interest. So that's how we calculated the $100,000 savings versus the what did we say $175,000 savings. That's just the assessment. So we had to factor that in. >> So are we breaking a contract?
>> No. No. Our contract is is terminating at the end of tomorrow. Yeah. Midnight tomorrow. >> And this is starting at midnight tomorrow as well. >> 11. Yeah. At 11:59. Garden State expires at 12:00 central if if approved. Central
Jersey, >> right? We can't have any break in coverage, right? >> Got it. But why do we have to pay back a special assessment? >> Special assessment was issued by the Garden State Municipal GIF for Zach. What what were the claims the claims period that was covered by that special
assessment? Is that 2006 or 2002 to 2022? >> It was 2002 to 2022. >> Right. >> Right. which we weren't the only community, >> right, >> that belonged to the GIF that got assessed. Every community that belonged
to the Garden State has been assessed. We didn't know what the number was going to be until recently um and it came out that we West Orange was assessed at 1.1. There were some communities that were assessed higher and some depend depending on um the claims that they had
through the years um and some were assessed less. So, um, but that was the assessment they they decided to pass on to us. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> So, Mr. Elderman Edelman, excuse me. Uh, I'm sorry, I got a cough here, so I
sometimes I have trouble speaking. Uh would you say in general the experience of municipalities in New Jersey this year has been that most municipalities are getting higher quotes significantly
higher quotes for coverage in 2026. >> Uh it's a it's essentially it's a it's a mixed bag. a lot of their the assessments that were going on in within the joint insurance fund uh that you're currently in uh were in excess of uh I
think the average was I think the average was 12 to 14%. Um the current the current increase that you had was 37%. So it really was a very um it was a much needed process to go through by
getting competitive quotes. But then there's other joint insurance funds in which have less of a uh an increase and uh I believe that the one that you're currently um evaluating today at approximately a 6% across the board. So
um it depends it depends on um each joint insurance fund and each individual member. >> Okay. Okay. So, Garden State uh increased uh the premium they wanted for next year uh by almost $487,000
which caused us to look elsewhere. Uh the savings of of 2026 was basically uh the central uh uh the central competitor uh was going to reduce our fee by $175
uh,000. that represented a decrease of 9.7% in what Garden State was was uh requesting. And so what actually happened was we still had an increase in our in our
premium for 2026, but we got it down uh instead of 37% we got it down to a little under 24%. Uh and the increase was 311,000. We saved almost 175,000. But then uh when you account for the assessment and
the loan for that, that's why it brings it down to $100,000. Correct. Roughly. >> Mhm. >> That's correct. Yep. >> So that covers everything. Is there anything else we're missing here before we vote? >> Call for the vote. I'll second. >> Before we do the vote, I just want to
say one thing real quick. Um um Mr. Edelman and Mr. um did an excellent job helping us out. Um I with the exception of Christmas and I think this past Sunday we have spoken to each other quite often between Mr. Denniac and I we
were working as of yesterday trying to get this price reduced again with to try to get the best price. So we're comfortable in recommending this to you u from the administration and I I think I can speak on behalf of Mr. Edelman, Mr. Serell that we we they also recommend this too. So, we we just want
to let you know that we've been working very hard to get this done to to the best price we could for you at this point for consideration. So, thank you both to both gentlemen. Thank you. >> Okay, we've had a call for vote. Madame Clerk, >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Scarp, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Koviaak, >> yes. And thank everybody for their uh hard work on this that started back in May. >> [laughter] >> Does anybody have anything else they want to say? >> Yes.
>> Yes, please. >> Um, there are a couple of issues that that we haven't um I guess followed up on from the last meeting. Number one is that the there was a report in the
dispatch um that the council was being fined, not the mayor, but the council was being fined. I asked Mr. um uh Sam not Samero
um Smoraldo whether or not this was true and he said that you have not received any notice of this. I'd like to know whether or not the council is truly being fined and how much and how how we are dealing with that. From what I understand at the local finance board
meeting, and I didn't watch it, I'm only getting secondhand, was that the local finance board did vote to find. However, we have not received any notice from the division of local government services or the local finance board or the department of community affairs about
those fines. So, until we receive notice, um, >> yeah. >> Were you able to view is is this up online now? I the last time I checked, their transcript wasn't posted and I couldn't find a video of of the vote.
Um, but I haven't looked in like in a week and a half or two weeks for the the transcript. So, I can go back and and take a look, but we haven't received anything. It would go directly to the clerk um who would distribute it. It would probably come to me as well since the initial letters came to me.
>> Um, >> I'm sorry. What is your source that they voted to fine just the council and not the mayor? And was there anyone representing just the mayor so that this so that the mayor was excluded from this fine?
>> So I I spoke at the was it December? >> Yes. >> 8th meeting. >> That's online. >> Oh, okay. It is. Okay. Yeah. And I asked them to find me um to transfer it to me. Um, but I did not attend the the
previous meeting. I I I didn't I I wasn't available or I don't know. We had maybe we had a council meeting. Did we have a council meeting at that time or something? Um, we had some sort of meeting going on >> 9th had a meeting. >> Um, so I didn't attend. I I just I heard
from Mr. Smaldo actually told me um I believe you told me that that's what you heard, but I I haven't seen it. I will check the transcript. I I tried to find video of the meeting. I couldn't find video of the meeting. Um but like I said, if we
get something from DGS, which is what they will do, they will send letters. Um because I' I've seen it before. Uh we will pass it on um to the council. So that that's all I can I can >> The last time this when we were first notified of this, we were given a notice
prior to their meeting. So, this is interesting that it's happening after the meeting and we still haven't received notice. >> Again, I I don't know if >> Mr. Tiner, if I can interrupt. I'm sorry. You just don't know what's going on. If they want to find us, they will
find us. They found us with the uh the initial letters in indicating they were going to find us. Unless you have any other information, let's just move on to whatever the other subject is. The other issue is that we uh as a council passed a budget for a forensic audit RFQ to go
out and it's now been several months and the RFQ has not gone out. >> Yeah, we we we did work on the RFQ. We are going to get it out. Um we worked with Clifton and we had a hard time sort of getting getting them to share their specs, but you know, we did put it together and I know Paul is going to get
it out, so it will be out very soon. >> Thank you so much. Um, we did not approve the um the the police chief's contract. >> That's a matter of personnel and I not going to talk about it go into executive
session. >> Yeah. So, >> at another time, not today. >> I'm just wondering if this will be on the agenda. I'm not asking for the details. I'm just mentioning this. Will this be on the agenda on January 6th? >> We anticipate it should be on the agenda.
>> Okay. And also we've pulled the Serbo contract for the tree planting and um we've shared information with what Rutgers cooperative felt about their work. Will this be rebid?
>> Um we shared that information with our attorney, Mr. Summerero. Um and then he was going to or his staff was going to look into the differences, but I don't have a a definitive answer on that. That was a couple weeks ago. I'll touch base
with the QPA and Mr. Smro about that. >> Okay. And then finally, I just wanted to know um I put up before the last um last meeting whether or not the ordinances for the fire pit are going to be on the
agenda next next meeting. the ordinance for the stop signs and the ordinance for the permits all of which I have sent in through council president whether they will be on the agenda for the 6th. >> The fire pits I know Mr. Samaro is
there's emails going back and forth. I don't know if that's going to get on there or not. Um I haven't seen a a definitive answer on that yet. The stop signs I'm not aware what stop signs are you speaking about because >> changing the >> I haven't forwarded it. Sorry. >> Okay. And as far as parking permits, that's
still an ongoing process with the police department. We're not we're not moving. We're we're exploring it, but we're not bringing anything to the council just yet. >> I just have a point of order. We don't have no business on the agenda. >> Yes. I I I will entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Uh so moved.
>> Second. >> Madam Clerk. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. Councilwoman Scarpa, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Koviac,
>> thank you. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Happy New Year, everybody. Happy New Year, West Orange. >> Happy New Year. >> Thank you, Mr. See y'all next week.