Good evening, West Orange. This is Joe Fagan, the Zoom moderator. Thank you for your patience. We're only a few minutes behind schedule. Welcome to the Township Council meeting for May 12th, uh, 2026. At this time, I'd like to turn the floor over to Council President.
>> Okay. Thank you everyone for attending in person and also online. We have an exciting conference agenda tonight. a little presentation from dynamic traffic. We'll let our clerk get started.
>> 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 Kovia, >> present. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> here. Councilwoman Williams >> present. >> Council President Scorpa >> present. >> Mayor McCartney. >> Thank you.
>> So, um would you like to introduce >> So, Council President, >> good evening everyone. So, thank you for coming tonight. Um, as we've been speaking about for a while now, um, we have concerns from our residents all
over the the community, all over the town of West Orange, but in particular the community in the valley, uh, has voiced their opinion to their concerns with parking. So, the township with our professionals um, engage the services of a traffic engineer, Mr. McCormack of
Dynamic Traffic, and he's been here before presented. So tonight we we've been working um for the last several months of uh crafting a plan for to to propose to the council and to to the residents so they could see what we've
been speaking about. So for for the purpose of tonight, it's just strictly a presentation. This is our recommendation from the administration, the engineering that's our police department and our and our consultant as to what we think may be the best plan to try as a a pilot
program for a specific period of 3 months. I'm going to get into all the details. I'd rather the professionals get into it, but I want you to keep in mind that this is a pilot program for a three-month period. So we can collect relative data to see if this is actually
going to be a final solution. This is not this will not be a final solution without approval of the council. One of the things that once we do this we present this tonight is for you to review it and consider it and then we will be presenting the council with
resolutions in support of whether we want to move forward with this program. It is time-sensitive so we have to move on it but we want to move uh we want to present it now so we have enough time to implement this pilot program and whether we're going to keep it as a permanent
solution or go back to the drawing board when it's all done but we need we need to have this uh relationship with both the administration and the council to to move forward with this project so without um taking away from time from our professionals I I want to um introduce Director Carbalo and Mr. John
McCormack with Dynamic Traffic Solutions. If whoever wants to present first is probably best. have an >> don't fit. You just force it. >> I understand. Okay. >> Should we turn on still light?
>> Okay. Well, good evening everyone. Um, as Pete said, this is not my first time here. We've been uh working uh with the township doing some uh parking evaluations over the better part of a year. Um we we looked at um you know,
different things for different areas, right? We had a series of recommendations for residential areas within town. series of recommendations within the downtown areas, parking lots, uh on street, downtown areas, etc. Tonight, we're going to talk about one
specific uh improvement recommendation. As Pete mentioned, we're looking in the in the valley study area. Uh there was a recommendation to create a series of one-way streets in order to increase the parking supply. So, that's what we're
going to talk about. I'll just go very briefly. presentation is less than five minutes and then um you know if Zabbeth or the police want to kick in uh please do okay just to give you a little heads up on what we're going to do tonight. So
I'm just going to touch on very briefly the prior study, the findings and recommendations of that study for this valley area and then the pilot program as Pete mentioned, talk a little bit about the schedule and also the evaluation and you know how the recommendation would would come from you
all uh if in fact we do the pres the pilot program and then afterwards. So the prior study you've you've probably seen these uh graphics already. They're zoomed in a little bit basically on the valley area. um the the findings of this area where that obviously
there's a high parking demand. A little bit hard to see here, but you see, you know, the streets between, you know, Swain and um and Mitchell are all colored in purple. Purple on the legend is 90% utilization or higher. So, there's a heavy parking demand primarily
because the parking restrictions in this area are, you know, one-sided. We're either doing alternate side parking, um, you know, street sweeping type things. So, we're not utilizing we're not utilizing the full on street, uh, parking supply. All right, Joe? Okay. Um
the road widths we're talking about um and I'll get to that in a second. Um they're all 30 ft wide, which is a typical residential road, but it's it's a little bit narrow when you talk about uh cars parked on both sides basically the whole way and two-way traffic,
right? Those kind of roads, they come with some emergency access concerns, etc. So, we said because there's a nice grid system, meaning a nice east west, shorter blocks in this area, we thought that a one-way uh one-way couple or oneway system would work nicely.
Here's the recommendations uh in a nutshell. Basically, to convert a couple of roads uh from two-way to oneway, you see the list in the chart. Nutman, pillow, quinby, rigs, and swing. Uh and you see the direction there. Convert to one way in one or the other directions.
You see the graphic up on the right. The roads are highlighted. The direction of travel is is colored in red. Um basically this recommendation is going to increase the parking supply significantly. Um each of these roads
has at at least 20 if not 30 parallel parking spaces on basically each side of the street. So on any given day there's 20 or 30 spaces not being used. So, we think if we go to a one-way road and we allow parking on both sides, we're going
to gain more than 100 spaces in this fiveb block area, could be as many as 150. People park tighter little, you know, here and there. I'm not 100% sure how many, but it's going to be more than 100. I can guarantee that. So, that's the recommendation. The the
as Pete said, we want to try it out. We we realize this is a significant change, right? So, we want to try it out. not only um in the summer season but also once school begins. So that's why you know Pete is kind of saying it's a little bit timesensitive. We want to try to get this into place so that we can
have some summer observations in August or so and then run the pilot program into September and October and and see the differences, see the changes, identify the pros and cons, identify the likes and dislikes and identify any unintended consequences. Quite frankly,
um the the evaluation is going to consist of some turning movement counts, some parking counts, general observations by myself, by Pete, by Zybeth and her staff, by the police department, fire department. Everyone's going to get a chance to see what this looks like, see how it feels, see how it
works, and weigh in. Then there'll be a presentation uh you know in October where we can present the findings. We can present the data. We can say you know before the the change we were parking 20 to 30 cars on the street. After the change we're parking upwards
of 50 to 60 cars. And we'll have that data. We'll be able to compare it. We're also going to pick up some traffic counts, some turning movement counts because we know when you turn roads from two ways to one way, we're kind of forcing streets to go one way or the other. So we're going to pick up some traffic counts. We're going to take a
look at whether that has any impact on any of the streets. It's going to be different, but quite honestly, I don't think it's going to be uh marginally um significant. And then the presentation would be basically present that information to the council and then the council can make decision to either remove the
temporary sign, stripes, etc., and put it back to the way it is currently or to formalize it. Um, and to and to make that basically the uh, you know, the the program moving forward, here's a very quick and and brief
schedule. Um, as Pete mentioned, we're looking at about three months August through October. Um, with a couple of action items down the left, you know, council decision, ordinances, etc. because we're cons we're uh converting roads to one way. We really want to have ordinances behind them so that the
police can, you know, enforce that and make sure people are doing the right thing, right? So, we have a little bit of work to do. Uh, in June, we're going to need to advance notice everybody. There's going to be a series of um not only, you know,formational blasts on the
web page, but also variable message signs um that are going to be out there basically in July. We'd have to we put the temporary installation in late July for implementation early August. Uh the
evaluation would then happen in September and we'd be back here in October for the evaluation and a decision. That's really it. That's it in a nutshell. It's a very it's very focused uh type presentation, very focused improvement and very focused pilot
program. Thank you. >> So, okay. >> We have question. >> I don't know if you want to do questions first with Mr. McCormack. Do you want our police to to uh present that? That's up to the council. What you would like to do. >> What would you like to do? Um, we'll
continue to >> um I guess I'd like to ask a question. >> Do Mr. McCormack, thank you for your presentation. Sure. I know you met with our community twice and you met in particular with the community that is dealing with this direct area the second
time. >> Do you feel that this is responsive to the concerns that they raised? >> I do. This is going to gain parking and that was one of the significant complaints. We don't have enough parking on these streets. This is going to almost double the parking supply on a
daily basis. My recollection of those meetings was that to a person the community advocated not to have one ways. They asked for parking permits as a first step. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> And I'm wondering why we are putting this layer on first instead of addressing what they very much need right now, which is just give them the parking permits. Let's see how that works. And if this does not address the issues, then bring back this layer.
>> Okay. I don't know. Pete, do we police department? >> No, I would ask the police department to um to give their opinion on it because we rely heavily on our police for enforcement. We rely u making sure um we're in compliance. So, as I said, this
is a collaborative effort with with the police department, our engineers, our engineer, and with Mr. McCormack. So, um, I I'd like them to at least present that answer for you. >> Hello. Good evening, everyone. So, what I want to point out is this. So, we
first had a meeting with the residents and we did hear that they wanted to have permits. As a result, we did a survey and we sent the surveys to every one of the residents in the valley. We send approximately 179
uh permits were requested from the 73 residents that responded out of 194 property owners that received the survey. When you look at that those numbers, approximately 38% of the residents did respond to the survey.
And out of those 121 property owners that did not respond, even if you are to say two permits for each, right? You're talking about an additional 242 parking permits that will
be needed. So there's not enough, how would I say this? There's not enough parking available in the street or frontage in this roadways or in front of the properties to accommodate every single one of the residents and their many I would say requests based on the
surveys responses that we received which is the reason why we're trying to see if maybe trying the pilot and if it does work we could accommodate the some of the residents gaining some parking and whether or not we go to permits that will be up to the, you know,
administration and also the West Orange PD. And obviously, we require some changes in the ordinance. That's the reason why we're trying to do the pilot program first to see if it works. We did listen to the residents. I actually spoke with a lot of them after the meetings and they wanted it to survey
and this is what we did for every single one of the streets in the valley. Rick's Place, Swain Place, Queenby, Pilot, Pot, I'm sorry, and Ros Rollinsson Street. And like I said, we only received 73 responses requiring
179 and that was equivalent to 38% of the residents. That wasn't 100% of the responses. Is there is not enough area for us to provide a parking permit to every single one of them? Okay. >> Councilwoman Ruden, did you
>> Yes. I I have two questions. Number one, was the survey given in Spanish as well as English presented? if it was >> okay. And number number two, the main criticism or the main main concern that
I've heard from the residents is that the students from Satan Hall park in this area. How are you going to prevent that? You're just going to create more openings for more students to be parking down there during the daytime hours. >> Yeah.
in the audience. Please don't clap or have an opportunity during public comment to comment. >> Sorry about that. After the last meeting and captain stood here and explained this whole thing, we did a study ourselves during the day for parking and who was out there during the day and
during the overnight hours and the issue does not appear to be during the day. There's open spots during the day on each of these streets. um even with the alternate side regulations that are in effect now the issue is at night when there's no parking. So in making these one way we're giving the residents more
parking at night to park their cars near their house because there's no issue during the day while people are at work. >> Okay. Did you >> I think you heard a little bit of the response. I think there is a problem during the day. Can you can you share the data that you have that and how many
days you were out there and noticed that there were there was no problem during the day when residents are saying that they have no place to park and they're circling around at 6:00 a.m. >> If you could share that data with with the with the council and with the
community, that would be helpful so that we can all take a look at what's >> Yeah, we did it different times. We did it 9 o'clock in the morning, 5:00 in the afternoon. Oops. >> Yeah, we can send the data up from the problem. >> Yeah. Okay. I Yeah. Are you finished,
Councilman Ruden? >> Yes. Yeah. I heard a lot of testimony from the residents that they do have a problem during the day. And I also heard a concern that they don't want to turn their neighborhoods into parking lots. Um, you know, they're residential areas.
So, I'm a little concerned as well about the oneways and increasing all of this parking. Anyone else have any questions or >> Yes, Councilman Kakoviac. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, back uh with one of the conference uh one of
the meetings we had, I talked to Captain Matulo and some of the other officers about looking at the data for two things. First complaints about parking problems in terms of time of day and night and then also looking
at the frequency and locations of any tickets that were uh written. And I just wondered what is the result of that uh I guess data review and how that may have
impacted uh the decision to uh go in this direction for the the pilot program. >> I don't have anything for the the summones but but >> Okay. >> Yeah. Hold on. Counciloman Williams.
>> Thank you, Council President. Um I understanding that we have some time sensit sensitivity issues with trying to implement this pilot program. Um but now that we have some of the residents who have been advocating for
parking permits, is it possible for us to now go back and survey? What is that time constraint really look like? Is it possible for us to do an online survey? Do we have to do it doortodoor? I mean, just here in the audience, this isn't a favorable decision.
How can we be more inclusive instead of just implementing something that clearly so many residents just aren't supportive of? >> So, >> so we allow the residents to either email us, come to our office. Actually,
many of them came to drop them off to our office. Some of them we even sent twice to the residents when they requested it. Like they call and they said that, you know, for whatever reason they didn't have it. Um, and I believe in some streets we actually send them
again because we didn't receive any responses the first time that we send them. So going doortodoor is something that I will leave up to the administration. I definitely don't have the staff to be going doortodoor. Um, unfortunately that's not something that I am capable
of doing. I I'm just being honest. >> No, I understand >> with my limitations with the personnel. Um, >> but if we is it something that maybe we could have a meeting here and like give them the survey in person that that will be an availability. I would probably say that would be the easiest thing. But if
they don't show up, then we will have to basically once again >> send them another. If we could if we could give our community that is directly impacted by this a voice >> and if that means opening up town hall letting them know that if you're going
to this is not what you want you've got to show up. I mean they're here we they can get the word out and then we will have a packed room and then we will have some better understanding perhaps with the online survey or something. But we
as a we have to be responsive to our residents. We have to be under I'd like to answer that. So we have been responsive. We've we've been here many times and speaking about it. We have had open meetings here multiple times. We have gone into the valley. We this isn't
a response. So we we hear quite frankly this is the same people came to last three meetings. We've advertised this. There's there's 400 some odd homes. This is not 400 some odd residents, >> but 40% from a survey. >> I understand that. I understand it. But so what we're we're saying is that we
have blanketed, we have canvas, we we we've this isn't something we did at two weeks. This has been going over several months and and all of our professionals have sent it out. We've even asked them to go out multiple different times. The surveys occurred during the daytime, the nighttime, the evenings, overnight. And
so we so we are trying to do the best we can to get the information but the unfortunate is that we only can we can't force people to respond. We have done this and so we're not taking this lightly. You know we've been asked several times and and I and I indicated to the to the audience that this is very
important to us. And so while this their opinion is very valuable so is everybody's and we want to get everybody's opinion. And so this was the best solution that we came up with. So we can do more studies, we can do include more things and we we have no problem doing it but knowing that the
sensitivity. So the biggest concern is that we're worried about the student impact on Satan Hall. So if we start August 1st we're going to get a six weeks nonseatan hall student um u data so we could see >> can we >> and then and then once Satan Hall starts
we're going to get a six-w week time frame of impact to Satan Hall students. So, we're going to see the positive and negative of what this program can do. And that's what we're really trying to do to see how it impacts based on what our police professionals have said to us
in these meetings and and publicly and and what we've had is they strongly feel right now that the permits is not the solution. It's we need to see if we can first of all get the cars in there because we have more cars than we have
stalls available. And when I say stalls, I'm talking about on street parking. And so for you know for the general audience so we simply don't have this the real estate to address every single car. So if we issue a permit to every we have one household that wanted 12 permits
where are the permits going to go right in front of their house or all over the so if we so if we issue a permit to every single car >> that's not what we have. >> No I understand I'm just I just want to explain a little bit more. So, what we're trying to do is be able to give everybody the opportunity to park and double up the space so that people can
park in their own street, their own neighborhood, and and and permit them to get there without having to worry about if there's a permit in front of their house because we have we have those challenges. And that's what we're really looking at. >> The the the thing is that prior to now,
prior to now, we didn't have a plan. So, now we have presented a plan, >> right? the public can opine, they can be frustrated, they can give us feedback and then I just feel that I I don't I don't government moves slow. We know this. This has been a problem for 10
years. But now that we have a solution, and it doesn't sound like a solution that anybody is expecting or was expecting, I I just don't understand why we can't go to another temporary system.
reduce it to two permits per household >> or one because even then if you do two permits per household you still don't have enough how to say this space for all these permits or people to be able to find parking in the street.
>> We don't like let's put it this way out of the 38% that responded we're already exceeding the number of availability spaces out there right but that was because they were asking for how many spaces they would like to have. Yes. >> Now, if we make an executive decision and say you're only going to be allotted
two spaces per household physically, is that even possible? Do we have that data? >> No. >> No. >> For instance, I have two streets here. >> We have Swain. There's 41 houses on Swain. On one side of the street, there's 26 spots. >> But some of the houses have driveways.
>> So, we're not talking about houses with driveways perhaps. I mean, I don't know. I don't know what the solution is, but I'm just saying this wasn't what they asked for. This is adamantly what they opposed was to go to oneway streets. >> Councilwoman, what I understand. Um, but again, with the 26 parking spots on the
street and 41 houses, we can't make people park in their driveways. So, again, we're going to be giving out with your numbers, we're giving out four uh 82 parking permits for 26 spots. >> One per household, I'll leave it. >> Uh, Councilwoman Castelino has a question and then I'll come around. Oh,
so >> one per household. >> We need more spots. >> All right. So, I wanted to know if you ever consider because this is painful watching this for the past 10 years. I know folks have been really upset and we haven't resolved this and and there
Excuse me, folks. Can you please I know you're I know you're frustrated. A few of you are just getting to the meeting and and you and you need to catch up um outside because we we we want you to hear us. So, because we're listening to you and we're trying to resolve this. To
me, the easiest thing, and I mentioned this before, I know everybody wants the permits, and I'm not opposed to that either, but we're also we have permits on other streets, and people I've gotten phone calls that they don't even want their permit anymore because they're getting tickets on their own cars
because they're under the impression that if they got a permit and it's in front of their house, they could park there in the morning and they can't because it's restriction. So, they were getting frustrated on some of their streets. So, what I would like to
recommend, and I know it's tough, but have the the police department consider it. All the other streets that have the permits, can't we just lift everything? The school is getting out now. That's number one. Let's see what that looks
like. Number two, before school goes in, I've had a couple calls with uh with uh the headmaster and they need to do something. They they they know that and they're trying to figure it out to expand their parking and to get the kids to park on their property. Uh especially
because they have a bus that takes them to the school. So camp for for argument sake now we just lift all the permit parking in the entire area and then see what that looks like and then try to get
a resolution the school has to remediate before we move on and upset everybody because I this is just I mean you do also need parking because folks I've had a they're not in the room and they don't come to the meeting but
you have stack packing issues in that area. You have commercial vehicles and driveways and and people are parking their residential cars on the street. So, you need more parking. I don't see the harm in trying the one way just to
see what that looks like for you. But, but if you're that dead set against it, I I mean I for years we've been having this conversation. I just don't there isn't an easy solution because of all of the issues. you have multiple issues in your area. It's not all Satan
Hall and you're going to see that this summer as you do every summer. CO when CO hit, Satan Hall was in school. You know, the public schools were closed here, but they were in school. Did you have any issues over that time frame? Maybe go back and look there if there was issues. There was a lot of folks
home then. Um, I don't think the permits, you know, you did, you had a lot of uh loose restrictions with the parking, but again, I really think you really need to lift the permits off the other streets for now. I I've been saying that
for for for two years now. >> Are you finished? >> Yes, I'm done. Council Rude. >> Um, Director Carbalo, from the survey that you received, was there any any response from residents saying, "We want one-way streets?"
>> No, we want >> There were a few of them. >> Very few. >> Okay. So, so very few, meaning one or two. >> I can't tell you right now from the top of my head. I'll have to go look at my data. >> But you would say the majority. >> Excuse me, folks. Please be kind. I
listen. The director is in a tough spot here. So, please folks, please be kind. I know you're frustrated, but let's hear her answers and and let Councilwoman be able to ask her questions because this is this is tough. And we're going to got to figure it out for you, but just be
kind because the director really spent is spending a lot of time on this. >> Let's give everyone an opportunity to ask questions. So, just wait your turn. Okay. Thank you. >> So, the majority of the respondents did not favor oneway solution. >> Correct. Okay. And yet the
administration is telling us that that this solution is being responsive to the people who are not here. >> No, I cannot speak for the administration. What I could say is this. The reality is that there's not
enough parking in the street for the demand. The reality is also this that even if you get permits, that doesn't going to guarantee you a spot in the street. So, that's something that everybody needs to understand that it doesn't mean because the township is going to give you a permit that you're
going to be able to find a parking spot every night that you come home or at whatever time you come home and you want to park in your street or in front of your house. It's just not going to happen. >> Was there any question in the survey that asked, "Do you have a driveway?" Yes.
>> And if they have a driveway, then they should not be allowed to request. >> I am not the one to enforce that one. And two, I don't even think it's enforceable to force anybody you must park on your driveway. Who's going to do that? >> Well, we can set policy to say that
priority would go to the residents who don't have a driveway. And then we can figure out >> too. They're not just one family homes. There's a lot of multifamilies and two families in the area. And we did ask
those questions. Like I said, I could send you the results of the survey. you could take a look at it yourself there for the very few that responded. But the truth of the matter is is there's a larger demand of permits than what it is
available. And there's also homeowners who have multifamilies or two families and they're renting, right? But they're not allowing their tenants to park in the driveway. >> And sometimes, let's got to be honest now, like everybody has a car,
>> right? So, we have to create some sort of rules that would address the the homeowners that have that have multiple dwellings in their unit and ones that have driveways. Once again, writing a policy or writing an ordinance
anybody can do to make it happen and is be able to enforce it is another issue. We just got to be realistic about what we have and what can be accomplished. >> Right. That's the parking.
>> Anybody else? >> So, >> did did anybody review the opportunity of removing the permits from the entire area? Did anybody take a look at that option? >> I was on for that. We're in favor of that.
>> We So, that would work. >> So, then sounds like we >> favor. We all we all agree with certain people get permits, other people don't because you're just going to displace traffic. It's going to be pushed down. >> That's what's happening. >> Everybody's going to want to permit. >> So, we just found the solution. I've
been saying >> we just found the solution. We just found the solution. But Jeez, I think we've got it. And the police are supportive of it. So, it doesn't cost any money >> and it doesn't cost any money. >> Just want to make sure no permits. >> No permits. No permits. Yeah. I mean,
yeah. No. It's a good start because it causes >> All right. So, let's let's try it. How do we make that happen? >> I mean, we'll get to public comment. >> We'll get to public comment. But, I mean, I like the way it sounds. So, thank you, Councilwoman. That was a
wonderful recommendation. And and thank you. >> We're in support of the We'd rather instead of giving out permits, we'd rather let people try. It's they have the opportunity to present, >> but we need to advise all of our residents. That's the other thing that I think is important. We can't just do
these overnight snap decisions. >> If we're going to remove all of the permits, we need to What's the process? What would that look like? >> Notify. Do we need to do an ordinance? Is what is that? >> Well, we won't want to do an ordinance right now only because this is a pilot program. So, we want we don't want to
take out We don't want to change all the ordinances go back and forth, you know, because multiple readings. >> What would we do to suspend permit? >> I would have to ask how to do that. >> Put something over the sign. Can I >> councilwoman Castle? So, so I just want
to make a point to to my council colle because just talking about like just making people park in the street and I I where I live I have on street parking because I I live down the hill and
you know even I always try to be mindful and get our cars in the driveway because I know parking is tight on my street and there's sometimes that you know you you know for whatever reason you need your driveway for something and you leave your car out. So, you try to be mindful.
It's nearly impossible to make people all park in their driveways. And like I said, this isn't the only solution. We need two other remedies. We have people living in basements and and attics. We need to take care of that. You know, last time I ran for office, I knocked on
doors and there's like eight mailboxes on the side of a house. So, we have to look at our stacking issues. It's impacting the quality of life in these neighborhoods and um it has to be looked at. And again with the commercial vehicles, they they can't be in the >> driveend all the permits, you're still
going to have a parking issue. You still only have so much parking. >> Exactly. >> So this this pilot program, we would be able to see where we're at after these three months. Again, with the seat of all students, we would address that. Then we would see the overnight because we know there is overnight issues there.
>> But that without making the streets one way. >> No. No. I'm saying to to make them one way to see what >> but that's not what they that that we were trying to eliminate making the streets one way because they don't want the streets one way. >> So we were just saying if we were
>> how revoking other permits are going to create any more spots. Those people that that live there are going to park there. You know anybody can park there. >> You have to realize we have alternate side parking right now >> and and we have alternate side. So you're losing half the stalls. three
three days. >> And the reason we do alternate side parking is >> that's the ordinance. That's what the ordinary >> streets are too narrow. So >> yeah, you have some streets that are very very narrow >> hard to pass. >> Okay. >> But but we're going to put the truck.
>> So that's one of the challenges we >> I'm sorry. >> Can you meeting >> excuse me in the audience? You've really been a little bit um out of order. We need you not to talk, not to have conversations. There will be public
comment, but you're being very rude to the people that are up here speaking. So, please hold on. Everyone will get a chance to comment. >> So, that's one of the concerns we have with the tightness of the streets is is for particularly the emergency services,
especially the fire trucks and the ambulances because they're a little wider than the police cars. >> Yeah. Um so the so that's one of the things that we've taken into consideration too as well is how do how are we going to be able to provide parking provide safety and improve try
to improve what is been what's been asked for and and based on like we said this these are the people that we trust to do their presentation based on their skills their experience and things of that nature that's where we tried to come up with this plan now whether this
is accepted by the community that's why we wanted to put it as a pilot program. We want to we want to have the ability at least to test this out and in 3 months we may come back to you and say this doesn't work and if it doesn't work then we have to go back to the drawing board but or and if and if the council
we're going to present these resolutions to you and for consideration if you choose not to move this forward then we're going to have to go back to the drawing board. So what we're trying to do is present something to you. We're trying to be reactive. We're trying to be positive. we're trying to present something to to make it work for the
entire community, not only down there, but if this program becomes successful, we would consider implementing in other neighborhoods. That's the purpose of having the pilot just to see if we can get that critical test data. And we actually wanted to come to you earlier to try and do it now this time of year,
end of school year and into the summer, but we knew that we didn't have enough time. We wanted we didn't want to just jam this in that well. So that's why we said collectively we said let's try to do this come to the council now early get it implemented August
6 weeks school 6 weeks or without school 6 weeks with school that gives us the three months we can collect the data not only is that data for just the residents but we uh we also want to look at the the people who are traversing through the neighborhoods. What we were going to
do is put up uh traffic flow meters to see what kind of cars we have running through the neighborhood because I don't know if everybody else is aware and one of the things we've been made aware of is in in either 2027 or possibly 2028, the Valley Road Bridge is going to be shut down for a period of 18 months to
two years. So, we're going to need to have to figure out something to do with that u with that area as well because that we may have to redirect traffic in and around the whole valley area. So this is something that we were just we were well not we were notified that we're taking into consideration because this is this is all part of the bigger
plan that we're looking at for what's better for the whole neighborhood. So >> so if I can just respond um we get it, we hear you. However, the only thing I'm going to take objection to is the valley is a very unique area.
>> Absolutely. So using this as a pilot program so that you can transfer this information and the data and the details to another area in town isn't going to be useful because not every area in town is going to be a one-way street or no
need to be changed. Not area not every area in town has multifamily homes in a congested area like where we are now. And I don't want to say congested I just want to say a dense area. But it it's really not transferable to every other
part of town. >> No, no, agreed. Agreed. It's not it's not for every we're not looking at certain sections, but there are se certain sections up in the Tory corner se part of the town where there's there's a lot of multiple big three family and and greater homes that we're
running into the same problem. The issue in that area isn't as great as it is in the valley, but it's still a need over there. So, we're looking at transferring. We're not looking for residential neighborhoods to do that where it's single family homes where there's more space and more uh a availability of stock on the street.
What we're looking for is the areas that are congested and that's that's what we're looking to to address. >> Absolutely. >> And actually on that side of town there are actually it's not as bad only because right now and the police department could back me up on this.
they're parking in lots that they shouldn't be parking in overnight. So there there's other areas that it's easier to them to get to to park in other areas. So that's why it's it's not as bad as it would be because down behind Pgate Park in Washington school,
it gets very congested there. There's a lot of multif family. There's even a couple apartment buildings and whatnot. So um it it's just as bad over there. We need to take care of that. But at the end of the day, I really think by
releasing those permits, that's one problem. And I understand you want to do the pilot over the summer. I truthfully I I think if you lift the parking restrictions in the other area
or or um >> take back the permits and see how that works. I folks, I hate to tell you, I think you're still going to have the problem during the summer and at night. And so I do see the need for the additional spots. And I know it's not a
popular idea, but I don't know if you want to just pilot. I know you're on a tight tight time constraint. You lose the summer. So you're kind of like in a tough spot here. So if we say let's let's go back and don't have any permit parking the other streets. See
how it goes. if that helps alleviates the issue. I truthfully don't think it's going to and then you won't be able to pilot the one way to see how that could truly work over the summer. So, we're kind of in a really tough >> if I can respond what I I one of the
things I I I'm thinking now and I I haven't mentioned the professionals and I would need their consultation on this if that is a way of possibly making this work. if we if we um withdraw all the uh the permits say starting July 1st and
then implement the see how that works for a month and begin the one way I don't know if we could pull this off or not. I have to consult with them first. But maybe there's a way we can start pulling these things earlier. The permits. I don't know if we could do that or not. See what that is and then run into the the one ways. I don't know. It's just and I understand what you're
saying and I'm trying to make it work for you, but maybe we could try both in conjunction, but we are limited. We are very limited on the time frame that we have to pull this off. So, and I I don't know. And I don't want I'm putting them on the spot. They're probably scratching their head like what the heck's he
talking about? But and I don't want to put him in that position, but I just, you know, I I hear what you're saying and I want to try and and and come up with collectively because this is a problem that we need to settle and and we need to address and we're trying to do that. So, >> we like we like lifting the permits July
1st and then holding on the one way for at least 30 days to see if just the permit situation might relax some of the issues. But again, this is going to require um and you know, when you say we're doing this for you all, this is going to
require you all's engagement. You all are going to have to respond in real time. If lifting the permits in some of the other streets that have them doesn't work if we're really going to make some changes, you guys are going to have to be very vocal, very focused, and let us know.
>> So, I just wanted to put that out there. And I I don't know if that's >> it's not going to open up. I mean, we're talking to the professionals here. It It's not going to open up more parking, >> but you're not creating more spots, >> you know, and this is the only way we
see that we can create more spots. >> Oh, I agree with that. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> um, first of all, I think that lifting the permits in July doesn't really make sense. The students aren't there and we're not going to see a result of what's happening. I think there are
three major issues that are causing this congestion. Number one is Satan Hall. Number two is the alternate side of the street, street sweeping, which is more frequent in the valley than any place else in the, you know, in the rest of the town. As far as I can tell,
>> because it's dirty there. >> It's not so dirty there that they require it every single week that causes this upset. If they did, if they had it less, then there would be less of a problem. And the third issue, >> okay, >> the third issue is that the police
really need to address the commercial trucks parking on the street and parking there overnight. If there was enforcement about removing those trucks and commercial vehicles that are there, it would open up more space very quickly and that's that's a freebie. The other
thing I wanted to ask is what is the price of implementing the plan as you have put forward to us? Z, do you have those numbers? >> I believe it was approximately $42,000 >> because we will have to do signage or
you strike the streets signage or anything. >> So, yeah. >> Okay. So, I'm just repeating for the audience who might not have heard that was $42,000 to do the uh trial implementation. >> Um, I have a question regarding that.
So, I remember when we did Letington, we didn't do signage on a pilot program for Letington. We changed it to a one-way. No, it wasn't. It was It was a temporary oneway for a while. I lived and walked on the street, my dog. >> So, for a while, it was temporary and
then it became permanent. But until it became permanent, we didn't put out signage. We had temporary signage. Is that not that not a possibility? Because of the number of vehicles in the area and what it's going to take for people to
get used to the oneways, we definitely need not only to do >> Yeah. Yeah. more people >> restripe, you know, the streets. >> You would restripe and it's not even a permanent. >> Yeah, >> it's a pilot. >> It is a pilot, but it's going to be a pilot for 90 days. If you're going to have it for 90 days, I'd rather be saved
than sorry. >> That sounds like I'm going to be what it is. That's what his house. >> Yeah. And I just want to say I remember when we did Letington too, a lot half the the neighbors did not want the one way. There was a lot of opposition to
the oneways. Most neighbors that I've talked to do not want their streets to be one way. I I just I don't think that's something that they're going to that's going to sit well. >> Okay. So, we need to wrap this up then. Let them have it. >> Yeah. We'll wrap it up and then we'll go
into our meeting and we'll Any other questions? >> As soon as we start our meeting. >> Have any other questions from the council? >> Can not from us but can they stick around so that if the public has some questions they can >> Yeah, they have to stay to answer the questions for comment. >> So, one of the things we suggested was that if if the residents want to I know
I spoke to the council president earlier, so I'm not going to overstep what she said, but we have we have people coming to public. We can put we could place our professionals in the conference room and they want to have a conference. We want we want them to have a voice and we want to hear what >> No, they would have a voice.
>> No, we want to hear what they have to say right here. >> So we'll wait here. That's we're here to accommodate. So I just want >> and I'd like everyone to stay so that you can answer the questions from the public. >> Okay. >> They don't need to be. So >> we'll make a motion to close the meeting.
>> Close the conference. >> Just go into >> You have to close them public >> the conference. No, just go ahead. Okay, go ahead. >> This is to inform the general public that this meeting is being held in compliance with section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, Public
Law 1975. The notice for this meeting was emailed to the West Orange Chronicle and the Star Ledger on October 30th, 2025. Councilwoman Castelino, >> present. >> Councilman Krovia, >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> here. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Council President Scarpa,
>> present. >> Mayor McCartney. Will everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The council is now in their public meeting. >> Okay. So, now is the time for public comment. And I would like to start with uh we're going by topic. I would like to
start with anyone who has comment about the parking presentation. >> Okay. >> And after Mr. um does his and Mr. Pissi is not here. >> Thank you, Council President. And uh
welcome everyone to Council Chambers. I know we have a lot to discuss tonight. Uh so I will be brief and quick as uh as I can. I just want to start out uh by saying that this month, May, uh there's a lot going on in terms of dedications.
Uh we have Asian-American, Native, Hawai, and Pacific Islander Month, Jewish American Heritage, Lupus Awareness, Mental Health Awareness, Older Adults Month, and I'm sure there's a whole host of others that I'm not including. Um Salute to Seniors lunchon
is happening May 20th. This is at the Highland One Crest Drive. This information is on our social media. I would suggest if you're interested to check it out there. Um, as you may be aware, we have the West Orange municipal budget hearings going on. All the latest
updated information can be found on the scroll uh following this graphic at westarm.org. And uh we have scheduled meetings coming up on May 18th 4 to 10 p.m. The time has been extended and noticed May 20th 400
p.m. to time uh to 10 p.m. as well. And these um will be covered on Zoom and the Zoom links will be on uh present on social media and our website. Uh mayor has open office hours. My goodness, we're talking about June already. June
11th, 2026, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. here. No appointment is ever necessary. You can come in and discuss whatever issues you might have with the mayor. And our next council connection is May 28th, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Also here in council chambers
and no appointment is necessary. Um, we have the uh call for volunteers to show up Saturday, May 16th, 2026 at the West Stars Recycling Center, 590 Mount Pleasant Avenue to collect and sort gently used plastic toys to keep them
out of landfill. Uh, if you think about plastic toys, that's certainly one thing that can be cleaned and recycled. I know I have many plastic toys that have been passed on to me for my granddaughter and that we subsequently have passed on. um CPR certification course coming up uh on
May 27th. This is free for West Orange residents. You must be 16 years of age or older and the class size will be limited to 20 people and only two individuals per household. So this information is on our website. Certainly very important. Um West Orange Police
Headquarters, I've mentioned this before, mentioned this quickly. It's a safe exchange zone, 247 access, and there's video surveillance. uh any public exchange uh of of uh internet uh transactions uh child drop off whatever
the police lobby is available 247. Uh earlier this this month uh Mayor Susan McCartney, health director of clean communities coordinator Michael Fonzino received a grant for 95 over $95,000. That's a very big check in more than one
way. And uh it will go to strengthen local cleanup efforts and hire additional litter patrol. I guess no one got my joke about the big check. Uh we have on our website the uh West Orange Health Department latest news and updates. This is in the scroll. Uh
there's a lot of information in here. You should check this out periodically as information is updated from time to time and it's very useful information. Uh we also have the Jinny Duncle pool. Uh we have this on the website and this is updated as well and there's all the
latest greatest uh cool stuff at the pool. Another joke nobody got or cares about. Um and we also this is something I talked about uh uh at at previous meetings and there's a scam alert. Cyber criminals are impersoning our town. There's important details on uh west.org
about this. West Orange is not isolated or targeted. uh mainly senior citizens. It mainly has to do with traffic tickets, but you should be aware if it doesn't feel right uh then it it probably isn't right. We have uh our Memorial Day ceremony coming up, our
annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 25th, Town Hall, 66 Main Street, uh celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. It's going to be a uh a grand event uh all year long.
Uh, our street fair is coming up on June 6th. Uh, just want to get this out there. I have on the east sign a countdown to the street fair on June 6th. Uh, so you can check that out as you're stuck in traffic or passing by and stuck at the light. Uh, but just be aware that the street fair is coming up
and there is more information about this on the West Orange downtown website. Uh, also I want to make residents aware that New Jersey American Water is replacing lead service lines. Uh, now there's probably not many houses in West Orange with lead service lines. Uh, that's the
incoming water to your house. Uh, but many of those water services, as it's called, probably are galvanized water services, and they're looking to replace it um for free, I believe, but they have to inspect it. So, they'll they'll be coming around, they'll doing inspections. Uh, if you have any
reservations whatsoever, please check out our website. There's a lot of uh unanswered questions. Uh, a lot of questions can be answered there by checking out this information. It is legitimate. They will be showing up with appropriate ID and certainly if you don't feel comfortable, please don't let them in. But I just want to let you know
that it is legitimate. You can check this information. I urge you to check this information out on our website. Um, also, uh, I just want to quickly mention, uh, a couple of weeks ago, uh, maybe a month ago or so, I had, uh,
posted on our social media. There was a couple in um the Netherlands, Marco and Dominique, and they had adopted a grave in a Netherlands cemetery. Uh and it was a West Orange resident, and uh his name was Arthur Bachman. Bachmann Terrace in
West Orange is named after him. This is a picture of his uh high school. He graduated West Orange High School in 1942, served in the United States Army, was killed uh in March 1945, just weeks before the end of the surrender of Germany, end of the war in Europe. and
uh he is buried in uh in the cemetery of uh the Mar Garden in the Netherlands. Uh obviously never made it home. And uh these people were trying to uh find out uh if there's any surviving relatives. They just want to let uh um the Arthur
Bachman's surviving relatives uh that they he has not forgotten and he is being his grave is being tended for. There are something there are 10,000 interaments in that cemetery. Well, just this afternoon, uh I don't have any information on on on Arthur Bachmann's
family, but I got a call from a um an author in uh in Dallas, Texas, uh for remembering veterans program, and he informed me that uh he is well familiar with the Forever Promise Project where American soldiers are adopted, their
graves are adopted and cared for in the Netherlands. and he informed me that there are over 400 West Orange residents buried in this cemetery and uh he's going to be sending me a list of those and we have over 3,100 names on our honor roll in the hall here and uh we
only know probably less than 10% of their stories or whatever happened to them. Uh and whatever happened to these individuals certainly their story has been lost to history. So hopefully with the uh Forever Promise Project and this promising connection that we can now uh
establish um uh their stories and uh reconnect their families with those caring for the grave overseas. I personally have been pursuing this for 20 years. Obviously not this specific project, but trying to find out their stories and this is a huge step forward.
So, uh, one final thing, uh, that I think is worth mentioning and, uh, this went unnoticed and I am not going to let it go unnoticed and it is municipal clerk's week >> and, uh,
>> by the way, next week is PIO week, so I just want to But no, a huge uh, a huge thank Thank you to uh Karen Carnival uh and all the hard work that you do. I personally witness all the hard work that she does. I hear that bell ringing
all day long and uh when I I went in to take a picture, she didn't even notice I was in her office and she was practically buried in this mountain of work. So, thank you Karen and uh thank you. >> So, with that uh Mr. Plesi is not here tonight. This is his contact
information. Uh you can reach out to Mr. Plesi for anything happening in the county. in his absence. I should mention that computer and electronics uh uh items accepted. This is important to West Orange residents. Saturday, May 16th. This information is on our social
media. I urge you to check this out because many items are accepted, but there also are some items that aren't accepted. And by the way, it goes in the trunk of your car. You pull up, they open the trunk, they take the stuff out. You never have to get your car. You don't even get um dirt on your shoes. In fact, you can just go in there in your
stocking feet. No one would notice. So check out this information on our social media and uh I'd love to keep going but I ran out of things council president and I know we have a busy >> we have a lot of people who want to talk. >> Thank you very much for your indulgence much for work to do. >> Okay so how many people here are here
for public comment tonight please raise your hand. >> Okay we are going to start with the people who are interested in the traffic the resident. Okay because we have our our professionals here. So, if after
I'll I'll call up I'll start with Miss Bernett and um raise your hand and come up only if you're talking about this topic. Okay. Joy Bernett Hilock please.
Okay. I I want to start off with 14 years ago when I asked about when I came originally about this problem. I asked for those other permits to be removed. It's not just the permits. There are an additional like 16 blocks above that
that have no parking 8 to 10, which is also a problem where the seat hall kids cannot park. So if all the restricted parking is, then we got fair game. I moved into my house. I never had a problem parking there. So I know as a resident on my block, I never had a
problem parking until all of this restricted parking started. Second thing I want to address is the tickets and I thank you for your request for tickets because tickets prove that there is nowhere to park. I have additional tickets since the $1,400 original
tickets that we spoke about that I can bring them to you. >> If we if I if my daughter had a place to park, she would park there and not have to pay $35 tickets, $55 tickets. I would come home for lunch every day. But there is nowhere for me to park. I work in
town at Redwood School and I cannot come home at lunchtime because I've come home in the past and gotten a ticket just trying to go inside and get a sandwich, okay, and walk my dog. So, I don't know where they are, but when I left my house this morning, there were students parked
illegally already and they tell us that we need to call. I got a job to do. I can't do the police job as well that I got to stop going to work and make a phone call. The next thing is Northfield was closed a couple weeks ago last week. Took me 15 more minutes to get to work.
You know why? I had to exit at the way that they would like me to exit with oneway streets into Valley, which is 280 traffic. >> Yeah. >> So, I could not I was late for work because I didn't know there was a problem on Northfield. It was closed. I came out my normal time. I got to school
10 minutes late because I couldn't get out of the street with all of the parking, all of the traffic that goes to 280. As I mentioned originally when these gentlemen were here, a parking study is not a traffic study. >> And so you're not concerned about me leaving my street. You just want to be
able to have people park. But I got to it's a quality of life issue. I can't just park. I have to be able to leave. And for me, 15 to 20 minutes additional onto my commute when I live in town is a little silly, right? >> Absolutely. >> It's a little silly as far and for
parents who are trying to take their kids to school down the Hazel, they're going to have to route around because if you also know the area, as you get down that that street where Valley turns into the it's one way. So, parents won't even be able to say, "I'm going to make a
left turn or a right turn to try to go to Hazel School." They're going to have to loop the block to get back around and end up in Rollison traffic where they could normally just leave out of their block and go down the street. Uh let's see. And $42,000 to implement
this. If we have $40,000 to implement this, then perhaps we could have someone go doortodoor and actually talk to people. Um the other thing is is that many of the residents told me they never got the permit um the paper requesting that they fill it out. I happened to be
walking my dog this weekend, which was a nice a nice day. People were out and they had no idea what I was talking about. We are a workingclass neighborhood. So, as nice as it would be for everybody to show up here, people don't have the ability. I had people who
were like, I'm at work tonight. I have gentlemen here in scrubs that came from work. We do not have, if you know, the neighborhood is a working-class neighborhood. We are not people that work nineto-ive jobs. We have people that work overnight. So if we really want people to respond, how about we
send send these notices in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and English because that's how Hazel School sends out information to that neighborhood because those are the the languages that people speak. Quite honestly, we have a lot of immigrant families that are also
illiterate. So this is why years ago when Paresi did the meeting at Hazel, it was convenient. people could walk down the street and they could come in and the and quite honestly the principal could even communicate information
because those parents had those people have children in the schools. So if we really want to be responsive to the to the residents, this is what you do. It feels like we don't care about the residents that we are been we have been
saying for years that first of all the people up the hill are more important than the people down the hill. the people who can least afford to pay these tickets. Another $500 in tickets for my family. I am a single mother. Another $500 since I was last here with $1,400.
Okay. So, this nonsense about there's plenty of parking during the day. I have sent the council pictures of days when Satan Hall is open. Your time is up. I can take more pictures tomorrow to show you what it looks like when when school is is open. One-way streets are not what we want. We do not want to be
inconvenenced and it is not responsive to what we want taxpayers in this in this town. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Bern. >> Anyone else would like to talk about the what? Uh, Council President, I'd just like to
announce that the presentation made tonight uh that the uh videotape of tonight's meeting will be up on the website 2 hours after the meeting ends. So, it will be available for review by the uh Zoom audience and all those interested parties. So, I will have that up there
tonight. >> I don't know your name. >> Oh, my name is Cess Toalda. Sorry. >> And your address? >> I live at 39 Quimby Place. >> Can you I'm sorry. Can you repeat that slowly? Cessen Toalda. S E S S E N T E W E L D E.
>> And what was the address? >> 39 Quinnby. >> Thank you. >> No problem. Okay. So, I just want to start off by saying I just came back from school last year and I've already noticed a lot of differences in the valley and I've also been subbing up the hill by Roosevelt. Um I want to start
off by saying we've already added stop signs at Rob in growing on Robinson Street and I'm not even used to that still. So, and that was for Satan Hall if I recall correctly. That was because they proposed that idea, I'm assuming. And then they be I don't know. But anyh who, that's what it that's what my
understanding was for it because that's the only reason why that there would be any stop signs added to that street from there were stop signs on Northfield and there were stop signs at Hazel for the kids walking and then there were stop signs at the top of the streets. I'm confused as to why there are stop signs added after Satan Hall at the bottom of
Satan Hall and then also added to the left of Quimby next right in between Quimby and Pilot. Another thing I know Councilman you said something about emergency vehicles trying to get through the streets but that doesn't really make any sense and saying that there's an issue about that because there's only
parking double-sided parking on two days out of the week not anymore. So, there's five days out of the week that there aren't double-sided parking. And then if you want to ticket those people, then ticket those people because there is clearly signs that say no parking on that side. Um, another thing I would
like to say, forcing permits onto homeowners and taxpayers who many have been here before I was even born, especially given that majority of these homes are or no, before I was even born. It's crazy given that these homes, majority of them are multif family. They
don't have driveway. Some of them don't have driveways. Some of them do. Yes. And the tenants, they can't park in the driveway. Okay. But majority of these homes, especially on Quimby, do not have parking like side street parking, whatever for driveways. So, that just doesn't really it's not doesn't make any
sense to me. Um, now on to paying the $42,000. I absolutely that that's absolutely an absurd idea considering that the residents don't agree to this proposition, nor do they even want to pay that money out of their own pockets.
I mean, that's Would you do that? I don't think anybody on the board would want to pay out of their own taxes to put something on the street that they didn't even want to be there to begin with. And putting a sign that cost $42,000 doesn't seem to make it temporary to me. It seems like it's a permanent option,
and I don't really like that. Um, I also don't think that the police officers answered the question about having more police presence on the streets. If the concern is having these commercial vehicles on the streets and parking on the streets, if that was a concern, I
feel like you could also place more officers on that route and keep them moving around circular around because I've gotten tickets and I parked in my right in front of my house for maybe five minutes when I left Roosevelt to come to my house, get some food like you
just said. I got a ticket right outside. If you're going to be out there giving me a ticket during the middle of the day, you can be out there at night giving tickets to the people that are parking with their commercial vehicles. Another thing I want to add, Sean Hall, which okay, Sean Hall also parks
ridiculously on the streets and I have never seen them get any tickets, which is kind of insane to me only because if you know if you see a seat and hall sign or maybe a magnet on their car, you can put two and two together and realize, oh, maybe they don't live in this house
and they're parked halfway in the house's driveway because I've come home countless of times not being able to drive into my driveway, let alone even park on my street because they're parked on my street, blocking my driveway. So, not only are they taking the street parking, but they're taking my driveway parking as well. And then you forcing
this on the taxpayers and the homeowners. It's it doesn't I mean, it's not a solution that anybody wants. If you want a solution, then you're going to have to go to these you're going to have to go to the residents. And you already went to the residents with this proposition. They said no. I don't understand why we're still here trying to argue the
same thing over and over again, honestly. But um yeah, so that's really all I have to say. >> Thank you so much. >> Of course. Anyone else like to talk about this song? >> Would anyone else like to talk about the
parking? Oh, right here. Go ahead. I don't know your name. Come on. Right up. Introduce yourself, your name, and your address. >> Slowly. >> Name and address. >> Yes. Slowly. So Karen can write it down.
>> Uh Kamaya Fias Herdman and my address is 27 Colony Drive East West Orange. >> Thank you. >> All right. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Um okay. So the matter that I want to discuss today uh is not the same but it's very similar to the issue that
you know we spent the last 45 minutes on. So basically um there's been a parking restriction that's been in place on our street since last year. Very similar reason. the Satan Hall kids parking on our street and causing unnecessary traffic. Most of the
families that live there, we all have small children, so especially during rush hour in the morning. Um it has been, you know, quite busy and uh fairly dangerous. So we are in support of the parking restriction that is there.
However, over the many many months, uh we've also realized that it is been very it has been very disruptive. Um so for those of us who have kids as I said and who we're busy going to work or taking our kids to school um having that restriction in place that applies to
residents as well has been very very troublesome. So what my uh friend and neighbor uh did a few weeks ago was to conduct a thorough doortodoor research and we basically asked everybody if they
would be more interested in a third option where we don't remove the parking restriction. I'll make that very clear because that was not the request that I made a few days ago. but to come up with a third option that would be more suitable. Whether it's changing the signage to say that it's only for uh
parking permit holders only or residents only or again residents are issued parking permits during those time. Um we believe that you know that would be a great solution for us residents um who appreciate that you know we don't want a
hightra area. We don't want people that don't live there to come and park there. Uh however, at the same time, it's been a major major inconvenience. Um you know, many of us have more than one car and our driveways are just not wide
enough to accommodate both cars side by side. So there's just a lot of in-n-out in and-out happening uh unnecessarily. So just to quantify this issue, 24 out of 29 households, that's more than 80% have agreed for a third solution to this
problem. So, I just wanted to bring it again to everybody's attention uh to try try and help us find a solution uh ASAP because this is really causing us a lot of stress um you know when we've got obviously other things to think about like work and our children. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else like to talk about the parking over here? Yeah, thank you for the second to get to the second column. >> Good evening.
>> Name and >> my name is Curtis Chaffen 55 Rigs place. So I just made a few notes real quick. So the first thing I wanted to uh touch base on was Seeden Hill. I work remote, thank God. But from 7:30
a.m. to 3 3 7 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Valley is packed with student cars. Now, after 3:00 p.m., all of the area opens up. You can come and go as you please. Before that,
you can't do anything. I go out, I walk my dog, and it's just uh kids all over the place, parking um all over, and it's and it's become uh quite a hassle. And for me, in 2020, I moved here from
Brooklyn, and I love the area, but I loved it because it it's it's not so packed when the kids are not in school. So, that's one of the reasons why I do love this area in West Orange. The other point I wanted to make was about someone up here made a point about
street cleaning in the valley. And we do need street cleaning in the valley because there's um a lot of multif family homes which have absentee landlords and um renters that just don't care about keeping their property.
So I come out my house um if I see something on the ground, I pick it up. But most of the multif family homes um I have called into town to say that I walk up and down the block with a with my recycle bin on my trash bin picking up
trash off the streets especially after it snowed um this year. And I also wanted to just state that um I feel that removing the um permit parking above Rison and any in any other
area will help a lot because um when I walk I I I hike all the way up to Gregory and I see a lot of blocks that's very empty because of permit parking but uh the students and other people don't
have anywhere to park. So, I think that's where your issue is. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Anyone else like to talk about the parking? >> Good evening everybody. My name is Jared Hall, also at 55 Rigs Place. Curtis is
my husband. Um, we've lived in this area like like Curtis just said since 2020 and I actually am a commuter that commutes into the city every day for my job. Uh, we lived in Brooklyn for about a greater of a period of a decade and we
moved to West Orange to really escape all of the things that the city had to offer, including one-way streets, >> right? Mhm. >> It was a huge issue when we lived in Brooklyn to have to deal with the hassle of one-way streets. And one of the
reasons why we came to the suburbs to go after a life, a better life for ourselves and our family was to escape the woes of the city. Okay? And now here we are today arguing over a survey that seemed to be pretty unanimous. I mean,
I'm not going to say it's unanimous because that's completely, you know, 100%. But the majority ruled where where we felt like one-way streets should be prohibited as well as really the parking permits as well. So, it's not really about the change that I think that the
neighborhood is really like ruling you guys on. It's it's really about the if if there's a change that makes sense, right? And it's all about making change that makes sense. Am I correct? And and I really do feel and I know from the
everyday um stories that I come home to from my husband telling me that um either uh scene hall students are taking up all the parking, they're parking in the middle of driveways. Even when it comes down to emergency vehicles, you would think that if we made things one way for even for emergency services and
police officers to to police and do their jobs, that oneway streets would prohibit that or make that even worse or impede their jobs to do that. So, I'm saying this to say that we just want change if if it's going to happen to make sense, right? And in this
neighborhood, this type of change just does not make sense. And when it comes to easy access to the interstate, which I want to remind you all, the interstate ramps, and this is probably not a West Orange issue, it's probably more of a a New Jersey uh Department of Transportation issue, they're riddled
with potholes. We're going up the ramps. I'm having to dip and dodge potholes and I'm still paying over $13,000 worth of property taxes here in New Jersey. Okay. So, I just want to make sure that we have change that makes sense that we have change that's really kind of like
at least the majority should rule, you know, if we're going to make change. And also for the commuters like me that are commuting every day into the city and having to navigate one-way streets just to get to 280 and and adding that to an all already crazy commute going into the
city to make a living and coming home at you know God knows cuz I'm still in scrubs as you can see I'm in medical field having to have to really uh navigate all these things. it's just it's just not change that makes sense, right? So, that's really what I wanted to uh just really underscore today. Um
and um and to really speak on behalf of my fellow people in the valley that we're not really trying to grill you guys over change. It just has to make sense and it doesn't make sense. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who'd like to talk
about the parking? >> What was that? >> Oh, no. Go ahead. I'm I want to see who's next. Yes, you want to come on. >> Hi, Katie Copel at 30 Colony Drive East. Um, I love change that makes sense. This
is a great opportunity to discuss it. I wanted to thank the council for being so open to hearing about constituents. Um, Councilwoman Run, I appreciated when you said I I've heard at many town council meetings that what residents want is is not the oneway solutions. Same, Miss
Carbalo, I appreciate the ordinance hearing hearing the problem that was happening on Colony Drive East with Satan Hall students, dangerous conditions, and finding a solution. We're hoping that the town council will continue these dialogues to look for solutions that do make sense for
residents. Like many others here, I've lived here for several years. We moved in in 2016. There was no parking issues at that time. They have since come up and so I appreciate that there is a problem that needs to be resolved with Seat and Hall. Thank you for calling the headmaster, Miss Castelino. This these
are the kinds of work and thank you for representing our interests in the community. Um I hope that you can continue this dialogue. We would love to have the opportunity to follow up to see what other solutions could work on Colony Drive East. I think we are in a situation where permits for residents would make sense. I appreciate that
one-sizefits-all for the community is maybe not appropriate, but appreciate the opportunity to consider this. We would love to continue the dialogue and um myself and my uh now 9-year-old daughter with a door-to-d dooror campaign. It is hard to make people happy. Even on our street, half of the
block said, "We'd like the ordinance to go away." Half said, "Let's please keep it." And I know less than 40% responded to the survey. So, community engagement is hard and we were here to be your partners. Thank you for showing up and um we would love to continue the dialogue for change. That makes sense.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And who else wants to talk about this issue? Miss Hendy and then I'll get to the back. Don't worry. >> Hi everybody. This is Jackie Hendy, uh Beverly Road. Um, I just kind of want to
draw some more attention back to what Ms. Bernett said because it was she nailed it in terms of talking about what the community has been asking for for so long and the idea about equity and access. I remember when I lived on Walker Road and there were some traffic
issues going down that curve and they had a meeting at Gregory School and just the idea that they are forcing people who were workingclass people, people who were working overnight. I come from a working-class family. My mother was a nurse. My father sold vehic sold used cars. He wasn't home until 900 p.m. My
mother wasn't home. She worked overnight and that's how they raised all four of us. And the idea that we don't under just showing that you guys don't understand the people in this community and what they're compromised of. The language barrier wasn't addressed. I'm shocked that we didn't even consider
that. Like this is just sort of a gimme. And um and I'm just the highlight of how the traffic issue was dealt with when I lived on Walker Road as opposed to what the people who were living down in the valley. I mean this was within the last 10 years. So this is a fairly recent example and how the community was
reached out to and accommodated in a way that far exceeds what we're seeing demonstrated here. So I just want to bring that to a point. Um also I want to bring up the issue of the intersection of Mitchell and Gregory. I know that we did the walkable audits and I know that you guys are working on getting um the
uh information and putting and actually I think it's on the ordinance tonight to put in these um these uh speed um feedback signs and I'm just wondering because there were two issues that just recently occurred. Um our crossing guard and I say our cuz my daughter lives on Beverly um so that is my daughter's
crossing uh uh route to Roosevelt. They're on medical leave. So, um, over the past couple days, there's been some there has not been consistent coverage on that corner. I know that the police are stretched and we're dealing with scheduling issues, but on at least two
occasions, there's been no officer present. And on one of the occasions when there was no officer present, there was a near hit with two children in the middle of the crosswalk. And I'm just wondering what we can do now in the interim while we wait for more feedback, while we engage the community or the
county rather. Is there any sort of temporary signage that we can add? What can we do to make sure number one that there's somebody covering that intersection every day? And I know that this the shift starts at 7:30, but that's kids are already walking to Roosevelt at that point at 7:30. It's
already happening. So, how do we get somebody there earlier? How do we make sure that they're there consistently every single day showing up? because we uh there was an accident on Thursday and there was an accident on Sunday. So that that intersection is increasingly getting worse. I think that now that everybody's going back to work
full-time. The the uh the pressure everybody's everybody's angry and we're seeing that being demonstrated on the road. So, I'm just wondering, can we please add some more coverage there and explore whatever we can do immediately in their interim while we wait for the county to act and uh maybe we can put a
four-way stop sign in, some temporary signage, something to to control the traffic in that corner. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. >> Um, Mr. given. >> All right. My name is Ken Gibbons. I'm a lifelong resident of uh West Orange. I
live on Seven Rigs Place in the Valley. 58 years as of May 7th. My daughter makes fourth generation. We've been there a long time. Um I want to say first, yeah, definitely scene hall is an issue in the daytime. I like the idea of
lifting the permits or having permits. I would prefer lifting the permits. Second issue we do have is uh it's a issue of just the number of residents in the valley. So at night time when seeing hall is no longer there, we still have
an issue for parking in the area. Commercial vehicles, I think people have already brought that up. See you tons of time on Rig's place on the bottom section I live on. Um so we have a few things going on down there in the
valley. Um I would say you know you know my tenure working at Deote big advisory firms Goldman Sachs you know I'm used to doing an analysis but I really don't have to do a detailed analysis. We have a math problem here but I am a math guy
so I mean we got to think outside the box. I mean some things I was thinking about I don't know the entire valley but right across the street from me we have a vacant house. 12 years, nobody's lived there. Even some of my residents, my neighbors use that driveway to park
because they don't have space on the street at nighttime. So maybe if there's vacant homes in uh the valley, maybe we can knock them down, make like uh neighborhood parking areas. I mean, it's not going to work for the entire valley,
but we got to do a a uh effort of looking at different avenues to address this issue. Um, so I would say we also have other issues in the valley. I mean, we have rodent issues, safety issues. I know that because my Lexus was told out
due to rodents eating the wiring in the car. So, um, you know, I love my home. I love living there. Totally invested and we do have to come up with a solution in the valley. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you.
Would anyone else like to speak about the parking? Okay, let's go. >> Good night. I'm Marley Mloud D and I live a peeler place in West Orange. Tonight I have to say I'm very disappointed because I came here three times and I thought my voice would have
been heard because I I um I came to the meetings, I came to the presentations, we spoke about not having oneway um park um oneway streets because first of all we um where I live, if there's one if
there's double parking on my street, I'll have a problem getting out of my driveway. I do have a driveway and um I can go without a permit. The only thing I only problem I would have if I have visitors. So I would happily give up the
um the permit to somebody else who really need it who do not have a driveway. But I feel that we should not have oneway streets. Secondly, when we had the first presentation, they talk about um making Rollins a two-way street. You didn't hear anything about
that in this presentation tonight. So I'm asking where is our voice because we do pay taxes and I've honed my home almost 30 years now and I and I would love to get the quality of life that I bought into when I started in this
community. And um so for somebody to tell me how I should live my life is very very poor. So I would like to say again we do not want oneway streets and I do not want double parkings on my on my block. We are very comfortable the
way it is. So, please don't give me a one-way parking, oneway street. Sorry. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Someone over here, the lady in the back, and then I'll get to the last row. >> Welcome. Good evening. Thank you. My
name is Erica Carney and I live at 29 Swing Place. Um, like the young lady here that was just here, my question is what happened to the proposal, the initial proposal about making Rollins 2A? Um, there hasn't seemed to be much
discussion about that since we've started on this trajectory. Um secondly, the one of the concerns that I have is with the seed hall students. Um they're very clever as young people are. Um many
of them have the seat and hall plackets on their cards, but they know to take them off their cars when they park and that's so that they're not easily identifiable. Um they are rude. They block our driveways partially. Um, many times I'm
backing out of my driveway. I can't get out of the driveway because they're busy trying to get a parking space. Um, and I have to say to them, "Can you please move up because you're blocking my driveway? If anyone else wants to get in and out of my driveway, I'm nervous. I'm
sorry. Um, they can't. So, it makes it difficult." Um, and lastly, I really enjoy space. And whenever I leave this part of New Jersey and I go someplace where there's more space, I don't want to come back
here because it feels like like a urban area. Um we the parking is very tight as you know. That's why we're here. Um but it's just one of the officers mentioned um if we park tight.
No, I'm sorry. If I have to park on the street, I try not to, but if I have to, >> I don't want some Joe Blow in a big SUV, parking on my bumper, and I can't get out. >> I pay for my car. I work very hard to pay for my car. >> It's nothing fancy, but I don't want to
be scraping up my car because I'm trying to squeeze out of a parking space or squeeze into a parking space. Um, and lastly, it's just the one-way street situation. It reminds me of living in urban areas. Not what I bargain for.
I've lived here for over 30 years. I graduated from West Orange High School. It's been a lovely place to live here up until recently. And I'm seriously considering moves because of how things are now. So sorry to hear that. Thank you so
much. Um is there somebody else in the back who wanted to talk about parking? And I'll get to the other slide, too. >> Good evening, Jennifer Iorio, Belleview Terrace. I wasn't originally uh planning
on speaking tonight, but after listening to the parking study presentation, I wanted to share a few thoughts and concerns from a resident's perspective. I don't live in the valley, but I have been continuing to follow this this uh parking study for a while now. I appreciate the effort that has gone into
the study parking in the neighborhood. However, I do feel that there's there more detailed data would be helpful for both the council and the residents to better understand how the conclusions were reached. in particular if the savories surveys were distributed. I hope future outreach efforts could be
distri expanded um better reflect the diversity of the community. Many of the residents in area speak Hian Creole and Spanish and providing materials in in multiple languages could help ensure broader and part broader participation in the community and and help you
receive a lot more data not just 40%. I have attended the public parking study meeting for the valley as well as several other meetings where many residents expressed concerns about the possibility of a one-way street. From what I observed, there seemed to be a strong preference from residents to avoid that change. Yet, the resolution
today was stating that they should have a one-way street, which doesn't go with what this the public has been trying to convey. I also believe that there is no is there needs to be more accountability from Satan Hall University regarding student parking in the resident
residential neighborhoods. My understanding is that the students have already been advised not to park on the residential streets but they yet they'd still do and if those rules are already in place residents are left wondering why enforcement is not stronger and why they
this appears to be few consequences for repeated violations. I don't know if the county has been involved, but a suggestion would be to maybe use Cody Field, Cody Arena, where there's a parking deck there. If they already have
buses bringing the students from other places, why not have Cody Field, a county, there's a there's two parking decks. There's one right next to Cody Arena that they can park right there. There is something that looks like a bus
stop there that they can just go out from the parking lot and they could be busted to Satan Hall and yet they could still have parking. It would be a win situation for the residents and Satan Hall University. They wouldn't have to build a big deck. They could use something from the county. At the end of
the day, it does not feel fair for taxpayers to continue in carrying on the burden of the problem that is heavily connected to the university overflowing parking. I would re I would respect respectfully ask that the township continue working with the university on a stronger enforcement and and more
shared responsibility before asking residents to absorb additional costs or major traffic pattern changes. I appreciate everything. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. On parking, anyone still in the
back? I'll get you next. Welcome. Your name and address. >> Hi, my name is Yasna Vignyas. I'm an owner at 57 Quimby Place. >> West Orange. >> 57 what? >> 57 Quimby Place. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.
>> My name is Yana Venius. >> Yes. All right. So, um, so since 2017, I've paid thousands of dollars in parking tickets. Not because I ignore the rules, but because there are often no reasonable uh parking options near my home. There were times I had to quickly
bring my sick child home from the hospital to avoid walking blocks away in the bad weather. And I still ended up being ticketed within 5 minutes in front of my home. At at the same time, many residents feel that Sedan Hall prep students are not being held to the same
standards. residents are being penalized while illegal student parkings often goes unforced. It's frustrating to feel like our community is being asked to accommodate a private school over the people who actually live and pay taxes here. I'm also opposed to converting
streets into oneway roads. That change would make daily life more inconvenient for residents and seems designed more to address the school's overflow traffic than neighborhood needs. Another issue is the confusing parking signage on Glenn Avenue, which follows Seden Hall
Prep's calendar instead of the public school calendar. Residents should not be punished because of a private school schedule. And while all of this is happening, our taxes continue to rise uh significantly. Families who live here, raise children here, and contribute to
this town deserve fair treatment and access to parking near their homes. I urge the council to support residents um in whatever works best for them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Unparking. Come on up. You
>> Thank you. >> Sarah Fishler. Uh Rick's Place in the Valley. Um so I wasn't planning on coming to speak tonight either. Um, however, hearing all of my neighbors come and speak, I have been to most of these meetings um when I can. Um, they
aren't posted well enough in advance for us to secure child care, for us to secure and make sure that we can get off of work. Um, to be able to coordinate all of those aspects of our lives um is timeconuming and takes a large amount of time. Um, I don't know how much in advance this particular meeting and how
much this presentation was posted in advance. Um, but I just found out from a text from somebody else, not from the website. Um, even though I've been checking fairly regularly. Um, I don't know why we are asking residents to um, continually uproot their life. Um, one
way parking for me on rakes would mean that if when I'm taking my children to Hazel and when I'm taking my son to Valley Settlement next year means that I will need to go down rakes. Then I will need to wait in traffic to make a left on Kingsley. I will then need to wait in traffic for 280 to make a left on Swain
to then wait in traffic on Swain, which will then be going towards Rollinsson in either direction to then have to make another left on Rollinsson to then be able to travel to Hazel and then to Valley Settlement from there. That alone will probably be a 20 to 25 minute
experience because Kingsley has parking on both sides which means that that on-ramp to 280, everyone from multiple towns who's using our on-ramp, it will be a nightmare. And so while a parking study has been done, a traffic study has not been done. The impact on our community, on commuters, on everyone who
doesn't even know this is happening will be tremendous. And that has not been studied. If we're going to invest $42,000 into a temporary possible solution, you can't convince me that when our town is already suffering both in our school budget and in our town budget that we're going to invest $42,000 for a temporary
3-month solution, you want to make this permanent. That is what the request is for us. It doesn't feel like a temporary solution to me. We don't even have a working stop sign at the end of Rig's place. If you go down Riggs and you're going to go as far as you can away from Rollinsson, that stop sign has been pink
for years. You cannot read the word stop. We've asked multiple times for that to be implemented and you're going to invest in new stop signs and new oneways to go in directions we're not asking you to go. It's going to tremendously uproot our existence. It's going to make traffic a nightmare. Um Satan Hall Prep is already the parents
are not allowed to park up in the the breezeway that they have. Um they now are parking on Rollinsson illegally um at dismissal. The cops are not ticketing them. The cops are not present there. We've asked for them. be called um and they are not being asked to move. They
are idling on rigs especially and other streets in the valley during that dismissal time because Satan Hall Prep does not want them up in their breezeway which I understand is a safety concern. However, putting them on our streets does not make it any more safe especially as Hazel students, Roosevelt students, high school students are all
walking home. Um there's no uh speed bumps on on on Rollinsson. Why is Rollinsson, which is a massive road, why is that not being considered for parking on both sides? You could have parking on both sides. Easy Ride came and did a traffic study. You guys were all on
those emails. They recommended making Rollinsson a shorter street because when streets are too wide, people speed, people blow through those stop signs. You heard someone else who's also having trouble with the stop signs. The people who don't live here have trouble finding those stop signs. On Rollins, there's no
reason why there can't be parking on both. If Satan Hall Prep is allowed to come and use our streets during the day, why aren't residents allowed to use Satan Hall Prep's lot overnight? Why are we not allowed to park up there? Why is there unequal access to the residents in the valley? You are not giving uh
communication in Spanish and Haitian Creole. Our families, I'm the vice president of the PTA at Hazel. You are not supporting our families and what our families need. Our families need communication in multiple languages. Our families need someone to translate because they don't read, because they
don't write, because they need support. We have senior citizens who can't read a piece of paper and don't know have access to the internet to be able to send that form, who don't drive, my neighbor next door, who doesn't drive and can't come down to the to the planning development office and doesn't
even know where that is. It's not fair. You aren't listening to us. We don't want one-way streets. one-way streets will dramatically change the the community that we have. The valley community is very special. You are asking us to make radical changes to the
way that we live our lives. You are asking us to uproot how we do things. You are not thinking through every other scenario possible, ones that inconvenience non-t taxpayers like Satan Hall prep students. You're not ad you are not asking people who live up the
hill who make more money than we do, who uh who already have their permits. Why are we not granted that same equal opportunity to live our lives peacefully, to not have to worry about our cars being hit or our driveways being blocked? We're already experiencing that with Staten Hogre.
You're asking us to go above and beyond when that's not fair. We don't want one-way streets. We want equality in the valley. Thank >> you. Thank you so much for your common sense commentary. >> The traffic issues were brought up before and they should have been
considered. Is there anyone else who wants to talk about the permit Susan Lick Eagle Rock Avenue I know that tonight's focus has been on the valley as it should be. The residents in that area have suffered so much for so long.
So the focus must be on their concerns, their input, and their expertise because nobody knows their neighborhood better than they do. Uh but as has been noted, the dynamic study encompassed other areas of the township where lack of parking is a serious stressor. Is
addressing the issue in those areas on hold or are those areas uh can they be addressed concurrently? Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else who wants to talk about this subject? Just a point of information before I
start. If I speak now, do my five minutes for public comment toll. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I I would like to speak um about the parking, but I don't want to give up the time. >> We have five minutes. So I mean you want to wait. Okay.
Okay. Is there anyone else who wants to talk about the parking? Seeing none, we'll go on to the another topic. Um yes, come on up. That's okay. >> Leave it to me. Michaela Bennett, Old
Indian Road. Um, so maybe I'll try to steal some time. >> Yeah. >> About the parking. I think this is um I think this is a good time to mention that a planner could be very useful >> on an issue like parking in the valley.
Just want to bring that up. Um, and absent a planner, this is what you get. Um, okay. So, good evening, council, members of the public. I'm speaking tonight in opposition to raising or overriding the municipal tax cap. Uh,
West Orange residents are already carrying one of the highest property tax burdens in the country at a time when the cost of housing, groceries, transportation, utilities continue to rise, asking residents to absorb even
higher local taxes sends the wrong message. Supporters of raising the cap often describe it as a technical budgeting necessity, but for residents, the consequences are very real. Higher property taxes affect the entire community. Homeowners pay more directly
and renters often face higher housing costs because, as you know, those housing costs always get passed on to the renter. In a town where affordability is already a major concern, increasing tax burden risks make it harder for people to remain here
long term. The purpose of the levy cap is accountability. It exists to encourage municipalities to prioritize spending, improve efficiency, pursue shared services, and carefully evaluate what is essential versus what is optional. Families throughout this
community do not have the ability to increase their income every time costs rise. They are forced to make difficult choices and live within their means. Local government should be expected to do the same, and residents deserve transparency. Before considering any
increase to the cap, the public should see a clear explanation of what cost-saving measures have already been attempted, what spending reductions were considered, and why existing statutory exceptions under New Jersey law are not sufficient. Once spending expands, it
rarely contracts. A temporary increase today can easily become a permanent expectation tomorrow. That is why many residents view raising the cap not as a short-term adjustment, but as a long-term shift away from fiscal restraint. I urge this council to reject
any proposal to raise or override the municipal tax cap and instead focus on protecting affordability, maintaining accountability, and ensuring that this community remains accessible for residents at all income levels. I also want to raise concerns that I've raised
previously, but about handling of sewer related taxes and fees. Residents were told that these charges exist to support sewer infrastructure maintenance and improvements. But when sewer revenues are diverted into the general fund or
used to offset unrelated municipal expenses, it undermines public trust. There are laws like municipal and county utilities authorities law and these law laws require that service charges be dedicated to the operating costs, debt
service and maintenance of the sewer facilities, not for general municipal expenses. If the municipality is now considering raising or overriding the tax cap while sewer related revenues are already helping support the broader budget, residents deserve a full
accounting of how those funds are being used. People should not be paying dedicated fees with the expectation that that money supports one purpose only to discover it is effectively functioning as general revenue.
Those are serious false claims. Before asking taxpayers and residents for additional money, the council should commit to greater transparency, clearer budgeting practices, and ensuring that dedicated utility revenues are used for their intended
purpose. At a minimum, the public deserves a detailed explanation of the following. One, how much sewer revenue is collected annually? Two, what does the joint meeting charge us? three, how much is spent directly on sewer operations and infrastructure, and four,
whether any portion is being transferred or relied upon to support the general fund. Accountability and transparency should come before any discussion of increasing the financial burden on residents. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Thank you. Jennifer Sheret, Howell Drive, West Orange. Um, I was not planning on coming this evening, but I was alerted to something that occurred at the budget meeting last night and then I started to listen to the budget meeting and then I felt that I had to come because it was impacting something
that um impacts many residents who are commuters in this in West Orange. So, I've lived in West Orange for 15 years. I moved in part, my in-laws live here, but also there was a bus on Pleasant Valley Way that took me in and out of
New York City. Wasn't great, but it was reliable for the most part and got people there. Um, I was very excited when a number of years ago, I know some realtors had gotten together to expand the Jity service and and open a Route 6 Jney that came to the Redwood area. does
not come right near my house, but close enough about a mile walk. It's okay. And it was disturbing to me to hear last night that one of the suggestions was that possibility of the jity just being eliminated. Now, I understand that there
is a cost to the Jity. I think there are ways that this can be managed and perhaps, you know, merging with other resources and other services that Jitney could be employed for. Um perhaps again even if with some small fees kids could get from one area to the other part of
West Orange there's a lot of things that we can do I think to help improve um and use these services to so we're getting the max dollars out. I don't think it's ever going to be possible for this for a fee to subsidize the entire cost. I've just done some a little bit of research
in the past few hours on what some other towns charge. Livingston doesn't charge. Maplewood charges 165 a year. I think um South Orange is about $300 a year. And again, I recognize that those are not going to cover, but that doesn't mean
that this isn't a critical service for many, many commuters who come in and out. We will not be able to attract and retain residents here unless you have a way in and out of this town, which is approximately 16 miles from New York
City. People move here because you're close enough to the city that you can get to work. And whether we like it or not, employers are asking people to come back into the city more days a week. And so we have to find a way um for the we I'm asking for the town to hopefully
find a way to make sure that that can still occur for our residents so that we're not commuting for hours upon hours, which I do sometimes. Um I think what I what I would also ask is whatever is going to be done it needs to be done with input from the commuters.
There are many of us I'm on a WhatsApp group with over 100 people just from the route six jitney which we formed a few years ago. Every time I meet someone in the jity I say would you want to join it? When we hear the trains running late we alert people. I mean I think that's one of the best things about West Orange how down to earth everyone is and really
tries to work together. I just recently joined a jitney. Someone connected me with people who are on the route three jitty on the other side. So there's a lot of people who are impacted who care and there's a way to solicit their input. We have the pasio go. You can give notices through there. We have the
jitneys. You could provide flyers through there. And so I would just ask that before one there cannot be a total sessation of service but that there be community involvement. I'm happy to help and connect any members of the town
council who like to the other people who I'm starting to trying to meet with as well and because I think it's important in this township that we really go through the theme of transparency and trying to find the best solutions. Um so
>> thank you and we will reach out to our residents. Is there anyone else who wants to talk about the jity about this topic? >> No. Okay. So we'll move on to another topic. if you're already good. Um, good evening members of the council.
Justin Goldsman, Moran Road. Um, first to everyone on the day is happy belated Mother's Day. Um, not you, Councilman Koviaak, but yes. Yes, your lovely wife. Um, on to actual business. I think it might be prudent for the town to provide an update on the status of haunt virus
just to inform the public, alleviate any concerns or confusions. Not a viologist, it's not my place, but I think a preventative presentation may make sense. Um, again, with the World Cup and summer travel and other potentials, um, I'm asking once again for our robo dials
to go out in English and at least Spanish so residents can stay updated on emergencies. Other towns and counties do this. We can. it would have helped with a lot of the issues with this survey being populated to the appropriate demographics to help them as well. Yesterday, the Assembly, state, and
local committee advanced a bill related to AI and elections. So, while that's different than the proposal I wrote and presented to you all about AI disclosures, it's clearly becoming an important topic that the state is addressing. So, I'm asking again for any feedback or updates on that ordinance I
presented to you all. Um, thank you for the parking presentation. I admittedly very disappointed in what I thought this was going to be. I had praise written out for everyone. This was not what residents wanted. This should have been sent to everyone in the languages that
they can speak and understand. And more so, the notice for this meeting should have been provided to everyone as if it was an emergency alert. When you are fundamentally proposing a change to the way that a neighborhood is constructed, you inform them just like we do if we
informed residents that there was a massive water break on their street. They would get a notification. We should have done the same here. Um on the agenda tonight, I thought there was supposed to be an ordinance about the cannabis hour extension since you all voted for it to put it onto the agenda at the next meeting, but I am not seeing
it. Our small businesses have been asking for it. Our town desperately needs the revenue, so any bit that we can find helps. Um, Miss Bennett briefly talked about this just now. I brought it up at the budget hearing yesterday. Um, on our items like ecigarette enforcement
and health needs. I think those things we should have a long conversation about dedicated revenue streams. If we're having ecigarette enforcement items, perhaps the violations for ecigarettes can go to fund them. Health code violations can go to fund health needs
just like a storm water utility has dedicated funding for storm water maintenance. Maplewood raised $875,000 last year for their storm water maintenance because of a utility. So those things might also just make the budget look a little clearer. So we're not figuring out what's going on. Um on
resolution 13926, former Congresswoman Cheryl got us $250,000 for that proposal. I was there with Councilwoman Williams and then Councilwoman McCartney, late Senator Cody on April 13th, 2022. I know Councilwoman Castelino did a lot of work on this project. So just confused. Are
we not using a money? Is it a revisement to the proposal? And just for cleaning up purposes, the be it resolved part of the resolution says nine bids but 10 vendors. I'm not sure if there's a typo. If we can shed some light on resolution 14026, the light at Gregory and
Mitchell, I've been part of those traffic studies and pedestrian safety issues. The need is absolutely there. We should have the enforcement being done, whether that's a light earlier to reduce traffic, whether that's the light actually there. But on the budgetary concerns, just concerned that the
proposed has an entering of agreement without an associated cost. I don't think that's prudent or fiscally responsible just to jump into anou with no allocated dollar assessment. On the Montclair pool rental 14526, it says they've been renting our pool space for
many years. So curious if the $85 per hour is the same price they always pay. All of our other contracts and vendor prices seem to be going up. I'm just curious why when we solicit vendors, they don't also go up with the cost of inflation apparently. Um, thank you for the step towards transparency on
including what executive session will be detailing tonight. I think that's a good first step. Still don't love executive session, but it is a good step to know what's going on. And on transparency, last year there was a debate and I was asked a question, what is the biggest issue facing West Orange? My answer to
that question was effective communication because effective communication mitigates confusion, frustration, rumors, division when we provide residents with proactive, transparent communication. Things like tonight would have been helpful. It doesn't always satisfy
everyone's concerns, but when people feel like they're being listened to, it makes your jobs all easier to govern. Good communication leads to improved governance. So, I'm going to ask. I'm surprised nobody else did. Somebody needs to explain what happened with the
pride steps and what the plan is for Pride moving forward. So, thank you for your time. Men's Health Month is next month. We should be doing something. New Jersey is the number one state for prostate cancer. It might be a nice opportunity to address that issue. Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Hey, Susan, come on up and introduce yourself. Good evening everyone. Sue Pamucci, Mount Pleasant Avenue. Um, I'm here tonight as the new Kowanas Club princip
uh president. The Kuanas Club is a global volunteer organization dedicated to improving the world, one child, one community at a time. After years of absence, the club has now been re resurrected here in West Orange. It is
once again a service club that's provides a service to the specific needs of West Orange families. The club provides a platform for residents and business leaders to partner together on local projects. For example, this
Saturday we are partnering with West Orange Environmental Commission and Second Chance Toys by cleaning and repurposing toys instead of putting them in the landfill. On Sunday, we are partnering with the West Orange Women's Club. Uh we're cleaning up the community
around the pool area here in West Orange. Next Saturday and the Saturday following that, we will be bagging at Shopright for donations with the Interact Club from West Orange High School. So, we are actively planning two big events here in
town for the fall. So, definitely stay tuned for those. If anyone is interested in joining the West Orange Kowanas Club, we would love to have you. I strongly suggest that you come out and volunteer your time with us uh just to make West Orange as great as it can be. We are
here for all children and families of West Orange. So, thank you very much. I'm here today with some of the members. Um our club has started uh just a month or so ago and we only have about 15 members. We are looking to double in size by the end of the summer. So, I
hope you guys could come out and and join us. Okay. Thank you. >> Good. Thank you all for all the wonderful work you're doing. >> Is Mayor McCartney actually >> that's a good background.
So, I just wanted to add to this that to help the Kuanas Club, I did attend their first meeting and this was on the environmental commission's agenda. As you know, for many years, the environmental commission, we have a 20ft trailer up at the recycling center. It
is loaded with choice. So, what we have been doing is asking volunteers to come. Usually a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. This date worked for us, May 16th. We're asking volunteers. The idea partnering with Second Chance Toys was to keep plastic toys out of landfills, donating
it back to the community. But when we partnered with Second Chance Toys, they have 12 charitable organizations that they work with that the toys that will be there will go on to one of those charitable organizations. So, we're looking for volunteers to help sort out
the toys, see what's worth moving on, uh, and disinfecting them. So, everyone's invited and this would be the Kuanas Club kickoff event. They have a lot in store. Thank you. Sorry. Nothing about that.
Come on out. >> Susan, I'm gonna say please, Council President. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Um, just to address the concern that just came up, uh, the transparency, effective communication. I take full responsibility for our front steps. I
invite you all to come outside and see. They are in dire need of repair. Um, just a little backstory was last Thursday, April 30th, the Hazel Avenue School was here for their third grade annual
uh field trip, government day, and DPW was out outside. I pulled them off the job because we did not have a plan yet on powerwashing the steps. Uh, I did not know they were coming back on Monday to
finish the job, but they are in dire need of repair. So, they came back to clean the steps. I did put out a statement. I'm sorry if people felt that it was not clear enough. The message was to give information, give me suggestions
for an alternate suggestion. We were not repainting the stairs because as of 2024, we have a policy. I called it a moratorum that apparently applies to land use. We have a policy in place that we are not putting flags uh on town
property. So the alternative uh that we have been discussing would be to put different colored lights all across town hall and it could represent um a lot of things because not only as you just saw from May we have a lot of
things that happen each month during the year. So these lights could stay on uh representing all inclusion and equality for all different organizations, cultures, traditions, and values that we have in our community. So I wanted to
explain that if anyone has any other ideas, we welcome them. But I do like this idea. I understand it's done in other municipalities and I thought it was a good suggestion. >> Thank you, mayor. You're welcome. Thanks, Seth.
Uh good evening Seth Weissletter How Drive. Um first one I just want to make one comment on the budget. Every time I come to a council meeting I tend to hear the word cut. Cut. We got to look at cuts. Yes we do. But we also have to look how and be creative of how we
increase revenues. And if we don't do that, we're just going to keep cutting until we lose jneys, lose residents, and property taxes keep going up. So, we got to be creative of how to get revenue and open up those discussions. But, good evening, council president, members of
the council. I'm speaking tonight to bring to the attention of the governing body, township professionals, and the public a March 23rd, 2026 letter from the attorney representing Township of Verona, and the Verona Planning Board regarding the West Essex Highland
Property Development Area. While the planning board has already denied the application and while the overlay zoning and settlement agreement have already been approved some time ago, I believe this letter is important to the council, mayor, township attorney,
administrators, planning officials, and our zoning officials to formally review and be aware of as this property and related matters may continue to arise in the future in the near future. The letter references the 1983 approvals
and long-standing agreements between Verona and West Orange tied to the original development of the area. It specifically raises concerns regarding future modifications, additional access points, subdivision changes, and whether
such a could conflict with prior approvals, conditions, and the historical intent of this agreements between the two mis municipalities, which was ignored. The letter also states that Verona views the original approvals and related agreements as
intended to protect against future subdivision or additional development impacts connected to the original track regardless of where anyone stands on this application itself. I believe correspondence of this significance should be part of
the public record and known to the governing body and township professionals going forward. Tonight I am respectfully providing this letter for awareness and for inclusion into the public record that may be reviewed and considered in any future discussions
actions involving this property property the overlay zone and related planning matters. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> If I may can I present a copy? >> Of course. Um, I'll give it
>> you want to give it to >> Thank you. >> Make sure. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Is there anyone else who'd like to make public comment? Mr. Penula. Lighten it up.
>> Joseph Panolo, the sixfells 200 foot notice area, West Essex Highlands. That was two years of a lot of activity, almost circus-like. As Seth just mentioned, planning board uh did not
approve the application last Wednesday night. There will be, as I understand, a resolution drafted that will be adopted at some point in the near future. And I guess we'll prepare for an appeal. I
don't know. Uh I'd like to invite the township attorney since the application failed that in the event that there's an appeal it will be the township I think that is primarily responsible to defend its planning board and I don't know if
town attorney is familiar with the GIF joint insurance fund but if it is possible to mitigate or educate the public about legal expenses defending board decisions and the GIF plays a role It would be good for people
to realize that it may not be all taxpayer expense or how that operates. It couldn't hurt. With regard to a few things that Seth just brought up with regard to Verona, I'll add that after the planning board denied the
application for 136 single family homes in 2006. That that denial was appealed. It was remanded. During the course of that remand, the Verona Planning Board attorney, Greg Misera, then same man now, filed a motion to enforce the deed
restrictions that Seth just referred to and provided information about from 1980 and 1983 when Judge Goldman remanded the case back to West Orange. He dismissed the case with the Verona action without prejudice because it was remanded back
here. This township could expect Verona to have to come back and enforce the encumbrance on those how lots one. Two, there are a series of things that are also true with regard to encumbrances on Oval Road between Essex Fels and West
Orange with an agreement that goes back to 1986 that was provided but somehow forgotten. There is currently litigation in ESXL7167-25 with regard to the easement that is Warner Road. The site is landlocked.
There is only one way in and one way out. While that issue did come up at the planning board with regard to denial, residential site improvement standard and traffic also came up, but one way in, one way out, and the use of that road to get in and out is currently
under contention. I was in court on May 8th. There were two hearings scheduled. One in 88625 which is the fourth round housing element fair share plan pending for the town that was adjourned till May 22nd and the other was the matter I just
described which is we care at al well that was also adjourned. I am not a party to what's going on there anymore. I don't know why it was adjourned. I was informed by the court that it was adjourned that morning and that there were discussions going on. I know that
one of the defenses in the matter was that the planned board application was still pending. Well, that became moot Wednesday night. So, in the event that there is some resolution or some settlement or something to stay or prolong it now that it's been
not approved. I would advise that it would not be wise yet to simply dismiss that because there are multiple encumbrances on that site. And in 88625, the fourth round Hellzang element fair share plan, there will be an objection
to one element of that plan and that is block 179 lot 32 which did not meet eligibility criteria under NJSA 5973.13 in the third round and it didn't meet it in the fourth round. It was not
available, approvable, developable or suitable. Nobody knew it during COVID when all this went on in the third round in 2020 when the settlement agreement was adopted April 6th and April 14th right after March 20th COVID lockdown 2020 and then the ordinance IH126410
was adopted October 20th of that year. The fact is this site did not meet eligibility criteria then we never should have been before the planning board. That's why I played that surface song at the beginning. We didn't belong there. whatever appeal does happen will be preempted by the fact that this site
didn't meet criteria to start with. We didn't belong there. We shouldn't have been there. And that objection to one element with proof that was already given to Susan Grul on September 6th in a letter, September 19th in a letter, and then by me here on November 10th
before the plan was adopted by serving her a book because she didn't acknowledge receipt. Those facts are true. They remain true. I'd advise everybody here to think this isn't over. Just your time is up. Then there'll be an appeal. I thank >> Thank you, Mr. >> Is there anyone else who would like to
make public comment tonight? >> No. Okay. Seeing none, we'll close public comment. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Public comments closed. >> Okay. Um, but I was going to ask you to address Mr. Penulo before.
>> Hey, Council uh President, thank you. I I I think that I need to uh >> uh respond uh in part to uh some issues that Mr. just raised >> uh and to also caution uh members of the governing body uh not to speak to that issue.
>> Okay. >> Uh we do anticipate that there will be litigation evolving out of that denial. Uh and as such any statements that are made here uh could play a role and uh I would instruct you not to comment on it since it's likely to be litigation.
Uh with respect to that litigation, to my knowledge, there is only one GIF, happens to be one of my clients, uh that def uh offers a defense to prerogative matters.
Uh I don't know if this GIF does that. I know that we had changed GIFs this year. Uh if this GIF does not do it and I would think that the chances are that it doesn't uh that means that the burrow will I mean not the burough the township
will have to uh incur the expenses associated with uh defending the prerogative uh challenge. Uh it is possible that there could be components in future litigation uh that involve allegations of civil
rights violations. Those are the type of claims that would be uh generally defended by a >> GIF. >> Uh but there also could be breach of contract claims. Those are generally not defended by a GIF. So there are three
conceivable areas of claims uh that could be uh expected to be filed in this case. two of which would not likely be covered by insurance having to be born
by uh the township. Uh and one is likely in my opinion to be born. Um, also, uh, with respect to the denial of the plan, I think that, uh, if, uh, something like that were to be upheld,
uh, it will likely be a hole in the third round plan that we will be called to satisfy uh, elsewhere within the township. So just because that application was denied uh isn't a free pass with respect to uh the affordable
housing obligation that was uh associated with that site. Um obviously there are other factors that come into play in the affordable housing plan and we're still uh uh fighting to uh support
as low of a number as possible. So uh I cannot and I am not saying that this denial will result in additional units in uh or units in addition to what we are currently uh conceptually facing because we're
trying to get that number down. Uh but uh the third round rationale involved a look back on the third round and it involved uh an obligation to fill
in holes from projects that were listed in the third round that didn't re uh reach fruition or were no longer realistic. So obviously if uh the challenge uh if the denial is successful
uh because as Mr. Pel raised it was not realistic uh then uh that's the type of hole that we would have been expected to plug with the fourth round had we been on schedule
you know last year. So, I just wanted to uh I guess educate the governing body and the public to that effect and again to respectfully request despite uh >> temptation not to uh comment on the West Essics application in any regard.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. >> As it could expose the township, >> right, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um Mr. Tiniac, would you like to take Miss Bennett's question about overriding meat? >> Sure. >> Thank you. Um, so the the ordinance that
we have on for tonight for second reading um is an ordinance to increase the appropriations cap. So I want to be clear, it's not the tax levy cap, it's the appropriations cap, the spending
over the 2% that's already allotted to us by the Division of Local Government Services. So we want to take that increase, maximum increase up to 3.5%. So if if you just pass the ordinance, it
doesn't necessarily mean that your appropriations are going to go up 3.5%. It's simply giving you the capacity to go up 3.5% on incap appropriations. Without passing the ordinance, we go up 2%. And anything
that is unused of that appropriation cap can be banked for a future year. So you can maintain three years of cap bank and you can use it if you need to in in future years. So that's that's what this
ordinance would do. So there's two caps. There's the tax levy cap that came out in 2010. That cap is how much on how much we can ask the taxpayers to fund. So that's a cap on the amount to be raised by a taxation. So it's a 2% cap
with exceptions. So it's not a hard cap. Then there's the appropriations cap which came out in 1977. The appropriations cap says on appropriations that are inside the caps such as like the salary and wages for
all the departments all their OE budgets that can only increase a certain percentage a year. So every year DLGS, Division of Government Services will say based on inflation, the 77 cap, the appropriation cap is going to go up half a percent, 1%,
sometimes it's 3 and 12% and you don't even really even need to do an ordinance. This year they set it as 2%. Um, so we're asking for it to go up 3.5%. Now, why do you have an appropriation cap? Well, let's say some wonderful
donor gave us $10 million and said, "Here, I fixed your budget." The appropriation cap would would stop us from going, "Okay, I got $10 million. Let's hire 50 police officers and firefighters." The state would say, "No, you can only go up in your
appropriations by this much." So, it stops the spending growth, even if there is revenue to support it. So, my recommendation is to pass the appropriations um uh ordinance tonight to increase the
the the cap to 3 and a.5%. Last year, we didn't pass it and we were still way under our allotted appropriations. Um so, again, you can pass it to 3 and a half%, but you ultimately control the budget and
what we what we do with it. So, uh, no, it's up to you. >> So, what would the implication be if we didn't pass it? >> So, it it wouldn't hurt us this year, but it may hurt us in two years. You know, you may you may want to increase
appropriations because maybe you have new revenues. And you're going to say, "Okay, great. We don't have to hit the taxpayers for this because we have these new revenues, but now I don't have space. Now I don't have room on the appropriations because I can't use prior
prior year caps. So will it hurt us this year? No, we'll be okay this year. Will it hurt you maybe in 27 or 28? Possibly. >> Possibly. So >> thank you. Um I was going to ask Mr. Smearaldo to talk about the sewer
related taxes and the joint meeting costs just a little bit about how that's organized. Yeah. So it's a a difficult subject. So we we started a a a study on sewer and I I did supply that to Councilman Koviaak as like this is our
our rough draft of of what we were starting. So we took the revenue that obviously we have as a major anticipated revenue you know it's9 plus million and then we know the joint meeting we have aligned specifically for the joint meeting what we pay them on a quarterly
basis you know around $4 million and then we started to add in the operating expenses that we have detailed out specifically for sewer. The piece that is going to require me to really dig into is to go through all of the
ordinances that we've adopted over the years and that we are paying debt on and I need to pull out what is sewer related from that ordinance. So just using easy numbers here. Let's say we did a a million-doll
ordinance and we're paying back on that or part of that ordinance 30% of it was related to sewer repairs. Right? So now we're paying back $100,000 a year on that ordinance. If 30% of it was related to
sewer improvements, I can say that $30,000 of that debt service is specifically related to sewer. So that's that's the exercise that I have to go through and I gota I have to read through all those ordinances and figure out, you know, what ordinances apply to
what debt service payments and perform that allocation. And the hope I don't think it will get to it, but the hope would be is that that $9 million is then supported by $9 million in appropriations. I mean, I'll tell you right now, it's not probably not going
to end up being that, >> but we still need to figure out how close does it get. Um, because there's obviously more sewer expenses than just joint meeting and those small amounts that we have budgeted for sewer pump
station cleaning and, you know, those those little measly amounts in in the operating budget. So, um, we'll we'll continue working on that. have a lot going on. But, uh, that will also be the foundation of if
we want to go with a sewer utility, we'd have to do it anyway because we would have to break out all that debt and make it its own sewer capital. So, um, we'll keep working on it and hopefully report back when we can. Okay, great. At least we started it with the revenue and joint
meeting and operations and now I need to pull in that debt piece. >> All right. Thank you for all you I know it's very complicated. The last thing is I wanted to ask Miss Carbalo to address um the funds being used for Degman Park and then we'll go right into the um the
parking. So, if you have anything to say about the parking after that, you can and I'll I'll call up rest of our experts. So, the resolution for the rejection of the bids, uh yes, there is a grant
associated with this. um project which was for $170,000. Um unfortunately the bids came much higher. Um so that's why we're rejecting the bids. What we're going to do, we're probably going to utilize the grants
funds to do the exercise equipment area >> through the co-op and probably will come to the um council with a solution for that. Mhm. >> Is there a presentation or something you're going to give us about what you're actually putting in there for the
exercise equipment or >> they're provided with the uh resolution at the time we send the letter and everything through the clerk. >> Okay. And would you like to talk about the the parking situation? I think we'll move into that and I'll let the experts just discuss it. What I could say about
the parking on both sides on Rolling Street is the fact that the one side that currently allows the parking is the side that is closer to the seat and hall. The opposite side that doesn't allow the parking is because of sight distance issues.
Every single one of the streets intereton. So it's very difficult to have line of sight if you have to make a left turn at every single one of those stop signs. which is the reason why we don't we're not going to allow for parking on that side. It was done for a reason.
>> Um the stop sign at Ricks, I know somebody brought it up. I will take a look and see if it could be replaced. Um with regards to the uh studies, I mean,
we'll be more sensitive next time to include all three languages, you know, Creole, Spanish, and English. Um with regards to the permit parking once again um that would be a decision that would need to be you know discussed with the administration and the um police
department. Okay. >> Okay. >> What about Gregory and Mitchell? >> Gregory and Mitchell the >> Oh, yes. So I will be meeting with the uh county engineer this week. I will report back on my meeting on the
findings of the meeting. Uh the one thing that you know I want everybody to make sure and keep in mind this study was done for the intersection. Um ultimately in accordance with title 39 the county is you know the county road is the jurisdiction of
the county engineer and ultimately it doesn't mean because the study says that it calls for a traffic light that they have he has to do it. So, I will speak to him um eventually. If you see me coming back with a resolution, that
means it went well. >> Okay. >> If our fingers close, >> um just keep in mind that the county, if the county does have set to do this traffic light, is going to be a 50/50 um expense.
>> And typically, the traffic light at an intersection is about half of a million dollars, if not more. Yeah. >> So that means the township or in association with I don't know who will have to uh kick in the 250 or $300,000.
>> Okay. >> So I just want to make that clear. >> And could that come under safe street grants? >> I don't think so. the typically the um safe routes to school grants are typically for just schools and we're talking about like um you know sidewalk
and things like that and those those grants they typically come every two years >> like we got the 2022 and the 2024 hopefully we get something coming out this year if there's any funds okay and because those are federal grants it will take years before anything comes into
fruition okay just want to make that very clear the safe the safe routes for all the SS the SA4A which is the other grant that we also obtained that's also a federal grant and those don't come very often so figure if
it we got it last year when we did the grant and we got like the 450 and the township is responsible for another you know to kick in another 20 or 25%. There won't be another grant and they have their criterias and this traffic
light I don't think it will meet it at this time. >> Councilwoman Castleina sure question. >> Yeah, I'm sorry that we're jumping around here and we're on this topic. Thank you, Council President. Um so I've been talking with Miss Corbal and some of the the residents as well. Uh years
ago, the school board when I first came to the council, uh we split the uh light at Alissa Drive by the high school with this uh the school board, the township, and the county. And you know, it was another situation
where the county, you know, um didn't want to place it at that particular time and we just it was just a dire need. So here, but the light was a much less expensive than it is now. We're talking it's what 10 10 years ago?
>> More than that, right? More than 10 years ago. >> So my eyes jumped out when I heard how much that's a capital improvement, you know, right there. $250,000. So what about the fourway stop uh signs
that they've been advocating for, will that work? And does the study that you did already or is that included in the grant? Where are we at with the four-way stop if we don't do the light? >> The study was for the traffic light and that's more or less what the the
study says is like I met the MUTCD warrants for the traffic light. Uh, with regards to the four-way stop, if that's something that maybe the county will be willing to go with temporarily until
they get the money and the township gets the money to put the traffic light. That would be one of my discussion points with the county engineer. Um, but it is up to him. the problem that with the four-way stop as well is, you know, just
is just getting used to that that pattern. And that's also another issue. But I just wanted to mention that. Yes. That, >> you know, the conversation I I was curious to see if we did pay for it. Um, and yeah, you know, listen, we have to
weigh out the safety measures. Um, but also as we work with the county, I don't think it's always fair that, you know, it's it's their roadway that it gets placed on us to have to make. >> Unfortunately, that's the way that's the
way it goes. Basically, if you're dealing with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, it is their say. And if you're dealing with the county, you're is the county say. And you know, there's the little dog, there's the larger dog, and the bigger dog. That's just basically the
way it goes. So, I will discuss with the county engineer about the four-way stop. We do have the study and like I said, if everything goes well, I'll be reaching out to our business administrator and seeing how we're going to like, you know, draft the resolution and I will
put it through legal and then we'll be coming to you. >> Great. Thank you so much. And >> anything else? >> I'll just invite dynamic traffic to come up and respond >> to the public. Tom, is there any suggestion that you had knowing the way they feel about the proposal? Is there
something else that you might suggest? >> When I came up here about a year or so ago, the the project was to help find parking supply, help solve a parking demand problem. So, the recommendation you heard today
does that. It doubles the parking supply on those streets. In order to do that, you have to make some changes. It's up to you. It's up to the residents what they want to do. >> Okay. >> I can't create any more land out there. >> Yes. Councilwoman Castle,
>> when you were doing your observations, um the entrance ramp to 280, was that taken into consideration at all when you divi we're thinking of the oneway? >> Yeah, we had discussions with DOT about it. Um we that would be included in the
traffic counts, right? We're going to have counts at all the corners and we would have counts at all the corners with the one way. So, we'll see what we'll see what the impact is if there's any. But, yeah, it's going to it's going to redistribute traffic. There's not a doubt. >> That's just the nature of it. Is that is
there going to be an impact? >> I don't know. I'll let you know in a couple months if you let me know. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. >> And does our police do you have anything to say about the traffic? Anything that you want to add? It's understandable there's a lot of
well-grounded frustration here, but we're trying to offer a solution and we're all on board that we think this this plan, you know, give us 90 days and maybe we can see exactly where we're at with it. Um, as far as the seat and hall students, we did hire two part-time
parking enforcement officers and they write about 600 tickets a month. >> Wow. >> Um, and they're they're gone at 1:00. So, with the commercial vehicles, we'll try and do a better job. We'll do our best to get the commercial vehicles out of there. That's the entire valley. Uh,
again, one of our concerns is the displacement of traffic. If we put permits in this area, we're going to go to another area. You're going to have a whole slew of another neighborhood looking for permits, and it's just going to keep moving. So, again, we support
this. We would like to get the data. If it fails, it fails. If it works, it works. If we can tweak it, we tweak it. So that's about it. >> The council >> I'm sorry. Um the parking study said that the the neighborhood is congested,
but your police report said that the neighborhood is not congested. So which is it? >> Well, I I think what it is that's the seat and hall times. Is that is that what you're speaking of? >> Well, whenever you looked at >> We're saying at night it's congested. Your problem is at night and giving
permits is not going to fix that overnight parking. >> But you said >> during the day, yes, during the day, we did counts. We put officers out there every day and we have the numbers. >> As far as somebody coming home and saying, "Is the the street packed with cars perhaps on their street, but if
they walk those four blocks, there's parking within those four blocks." And that's where we took our study from. >> The You did the area. >> We did the area. We didn't do individual streets, you know, rigs. So you come home in front of your house if you don't have a parking spot. I understand that.
But if you walk to the next block, there may be five spots there. You know, we looked at it as a whole neighborhood. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, I'll let my colleagues respond
to public comment. Who would >> uh I need a minute. I Why don't we start with you? >> Okay. Thank you, Council President. Uh thank you to everyone who came out and talked about the uh traffic and parking
problems down in the valley. Uh I think certainly I heard you loud and clear and I think everybody else up here on the day heard you loud and clear. Uh the pilot appears to be an opportunity
to give everyone a chance to see how it might or does change things. And that would include getting at least 100 new spaces and maybe a lot more. And then if we doesn't work, we would go back to the
the prior situation. But I mean the uniformity and the the uh passion and the information that you all conveyed was just absolutely uh clear that this is not something that
you want down in in your neighborhood. So I'm certainly not going to vote to force it down your throat, although I think it it would be an opportunity just to see how how it would be. But everybody's clear. Just so you know, 38%
response rate is a very good rate of response gives total validation to the sample. Okay. It's clear with 38%. I mean, some of these some of these surveys that we that that you do, if you
get 5% these days, it's it's a major thing. You guys gave 38%. Very clear, very valid. it's easy to extrapolate over the whole sample size. So, I'm I'm listening to that,
but uh what sounds like we got to go back to the drawing board, but I'm not sure we're going to be able to get anything new that sub significant. We have, as Mr. Gibbons pointed out in a very simple, direct manner, we have a
math problem. Ms. Carbalo did the same thing and so did some of the uh police officers. I I'm not sure if I remember Mr. McCormack. It's been a such a long time ago since he spoke so I I can't remember if he did. But we have a math problem. We've got way more cars, way
more people, and we don't have enough parking spaces. We don't even come close to that. So it it may have to require that everybody compromise. I don't know. But clearly this as proposed is is not going to work
for you. So uh it's it's a math it's a math problem and the math problem isn't going to go away. Um I don't think I need to belabver the point but I really appreciate everybody coming out. It's clear this is basically what you've been saying at every meeting. And I I do say
I was disappointed. I had asked for the police to take a look at the complaints and the uh ticketing over time to see if there were any patterns that emerged in the neighborhood. Uh, I would still like to see that happen and if if it does,
I'll certainly pass along that because I think that will uh give us a better idea of where the problems are, especially when the student cars are are not around. Uh, Miss Bennett, uh, I just wanted to
say we can pursue the, uh, cap. At the same time, we are trying to knock down this proposed, uh, property tax increase of over 6%. We had a great deal of success last year. It's not going to be nearly as easy, and
it's probably going to be more painful. Uh, but depending on where the council stands on this, uh, we have a lot more work to do. And I think we can do both at the same time. And Miss Sherid, uh again, you're uh always a voice of of
reason and insight. And uh I totally agree with you about the idea of getting input from resident commuters. Totally agree with you on transparency. We got to maximize this and maximize communication so that everybody has a
say in this. And uh uh so thank you for coming. Um, Mr. Goldsman, I actually, for some reason, I caught a lot of what he said uh today and I I I appreciate that. He asked the question about the uh the two
uh speed traffic responders that are on the agenda for Gregory Avenue today. He asked the same question I did. It's going to cost about $17,000 for these two uh feedback uh
machines. Um he asked on 125 he was talking about the rental of the town pool by the Montlair um YMCA. Uh it's been a relationship that's
gone on for many years. To answer his question, same question I asked. We have been raising the price of the rental uh year overyear to make sure it covers our cost. And then in addition, there's a provision in the
contract that also gets payment to cover any personnel we need to put there, such as a lifeguard. Um, and I can't talk about West Essex Highlands
uh tonight, so I will end my comments now. Thank you, Council President. >> Councilwoman Rubin, would you like to go next? >> Uh, sure. Um, just a second. I think that government works best when we listen to the people. And I think
tonight we heard many many comments of our community coming out and asking us very clearly what they want and what we should do. And I see a problem here that the leaders are not listening. We as a
council seem to be listening. Um but I'm not sure the leadership of this community is listening. The people came out twice and said very very clearly we don't want one ways. I remember speaking with Mr. McCormack at one of these
hearings and I said can you do what the people want? and he said, "Yes, but it depends upon how I'm directed." And it's very clear here that the administration has directed the traffic um experts to
pursue an option that the people did not ask for. Um, this week we have a a bill which I'll talk about later which clearly directs the administ the administration is clearly directing
dynamic traffic to create one-way streets. Um, I'm not sure why why the administration is not listening, but I do believe that the council hears you and that we will continue to advocate
for this community that has been in such a such a um compromised situation for I guess 14 years that this is that this has been brought to our attention. Again, government works best when we
listen to the people, which is why um the letters that that we all got today from members of the community who are upset about changes that could possibly happen to the Jity um Jity service. They're right to be concerned that
affects their daily life. That is maybe the reason why they moved here. Um last night there was some discussion about this. I just want to assure the community that this was a discussion because we are examining costs. Nothing will be done until we get more
information and nothing will be done without the input of this very specific community that relies upon the Jity for transportation. Um, as for the cap um that is on our
budget tonight, I that is on our agenda tonight, I really don't see a reason to approve this. We are meeting time after time in budget hearings. We're asking our department heads to make cuts. We our residents expect us to make cuts.
Um, we are here to protect your tax dollars. So, this resolution to me seems to fly in the face of what the purpose of the entire budget process is all about. Um, as for the sewer sewer um
fees that we all are paying $500, $350 to $500, I do believe that when this all started several years ago, we all believed as we were told that this was going into a dedicated fund for sewers. I think that what we're doing right now
is playing catchup to make the facts fit what we thought was supposed to happen. And that's not the way government is supposed to work. We should have created a dedicated fund. I would like to ask the administration going forward to create that dedicated fund so that we
don't have to play catchup to the facts on ground. um the Kowanas Club, something good and positive. Thank you for joining our community. Thank you for all the projects that you're that you're doing. I will be joining you at least on one of
those projects in the next um two weeks. Um and and thanks for, you know, helping our town be exactly who we are. I think that I have hit on all of the points. Um
the cannabis issue that was supposed to be on the resol on on our agenda today. Um we all voted unanimously last time under new matters that this would be brought. I understand that the attorney brought it to the uh township clerk and
that it was presented to the council president and somehow somehow along the lines there was a little bit of a miscommunication but it will be going forward in two weeks and um I think it's it's great. We need the extra revenue so
expect that to be on in in two weeks and I think that that addresses great >> everything I meant to say. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for coming out this evening. Um, this is
really what democracy should look like. So, I want to applaud um all of the residents that came out to advocate for the valley parking area. I think we're all singing the same song. So again, I'm going to really be brief and just ask
that the administration really consider um lifting the permits for those um for that area doing the pilot process so that we can see if um just freeing up some of those other streets would alleviate some of the parking issues um
as we look to create solutions. um extremely and and a little disappointed um in not seeing the cannabis ordinance, but I did have a question regarding the cannabis ordinance, which is even once
we approve that, does it have to go back to the planning board um for their review procedurally just because I want to set the expectations um for our businesses so that they'll really understand? Because again, when we shift and we make these kind of changes that impact our business partners or our
residents, we really should be giving them a heads up on what it looks like so that they can plan properly as well. >> Councilman, I don't think that I have them dragged with me. Uh, but the answer is if it's a zoning ordinance, then it goes for a consistency review. If it's
not a zoning ordinance, it does not. Um, with that being said, >> I'm not sure where what >> Councilwoman Williams, uh, the Zoom audience is complaining they can't hear you. Can go into the mic, please. Thank you. >> With that being said, I know that there was a consistency hearing on something
that was outside of the uh, zoning ordinance um, a couple weeks ago uh, regarding the chairmanship of the zoning board. uh it doesn't invalidate, it just creates a step that's not necessary
because it's not a zoning ordinance. A zoning ordinance is something that uh relates to the standards associated with uh land use approvals. Um so I don't know if there's something in the
ordinance in and of itself that kind of defers it to the planning board for a review. Uh, but when it's up, I'll I'll be I'll have it before me and I'll be able to pull it up and and I'll give you an answer on that. >> Okay. >> Just so that our businesses can plan
because if they're going to be open for two extra hours once that gets approved, I'm sure they're going to need to make accommodations, extend, >> do it sooner sooner than later. So, they want the heads up. I understand. >> Thank you. Um, in addition to that, um,
also just wanted to talk about Um the Jitney bus. Um again the Jitney bus to all the commuters who use that. Um again I spoke very clearly as a real estate professional with over 20 years
experience living right here in West Orange. My husband taking the jitney into the city. I know how valuable of a of a asset and a resource that is um to transportation and commuters. But we do have to look at how we run the Jity um
and make it financially feasible. When we look at the budget and we understand that $900,000 is a point and we spend over a million dollar in salaries um for the Jity, it it just begs the question, what can we do more efficiently? I am
absolutely supportive of continuing the Jity as long as it is affordable. Um so I do want to be very clear because I understand my colleague um stated in a meeting uh that I am not in support of the jitney. What I would prefer is that
if someone is curious that they allow me to speak on my own behalf and not put words into my mouth because that's absolutely not what I indicated last night in the budget hearing. Um so again, apologies for those who may be alarmed um at but we're not cutting the
service. Um but as your elected officials, it is our responsibility to to do a thorough review and see what makes sense for all of our residences residents. Um we can't keep year after year um just having these increases that
are outside of the cap. Um we don't want to lose personnel and we certainly want to be able to maintain our services. Um but it's very very difficult u when we're looking at the budget um to make those cuts and we have to have those
conversations. So please just bear with us and and know that without community input if we haven't heard he heard and learned anything I think you've heard each of us today say that we have to start making these uh township decisions with community input. Um, while we do
welcome and appreciate the fact that you all come out, um, we want you all to come out for good stuff. We don't want you to come out because you're angry, um, at the administration or your elected officials. We're listening to you. Um, and we want to create solutions, but we also have to listen to
our professionals. Um, but again, these professionals are directed by the administration. And so what what we hope um is that we do become a little more sensitive to the needs of our residents. It was a great suggestion to have these
conversations in neighborhoods. Um, so I hope that we can look to as we continue um, you know, just going out into the community. Again, everybody may not have access to town hall. Um, and then again, we limit communication because we don't
have any responses on the Zoom. Um, so maybe if we want to open it up and consider um for specific topics um just to try and accommodate the public um that that might be something that we um allow or permit.
Um also wanted to address the um removal of the pride flag. Um very very shocked to see that it was um removed and no communication um to the community. The pride flag was a um result of our
community going through a tremendous amount of challenges with people saying West Orange is supposed to be a welcoming community and they didn't feel um that. And so with the approval from the previous um mayor, we did do the
pride flag on the stairs. And initially um it it was a it was a moment of of actual pride in our community. Um the pride flag was the entire pride flag. Um not
just LGBTQ but LGBTQ plus. Um and we were we were intentional about um helping people feel welcome in our community. Um, so it was very disappointing to see that it was removed
just three weeks before Pride. Um, again, not a lot of communication and then a response that welcomed the community's input, but again, you when we turn off comments, we're not welcoming community input. And
I realize that, you know, maybe that's not the best way social media because we're social media bullies. We're keyboard warriors. Um and maybe some of the remarks might not have been kind um but we just do need to be cognizant that
um we are a very diverse community and the biggest criticism is communication. Um one department doesn't know what the other department is doing. Our uh boards and commissions aren't informed when there are ordinances that really impact
how they function. Um, so we just have to do better when we listen to the public, when we hear where we can make small adjustments and do better and improve relationships with our community. Um, we just need to be respectful of those things. Um, as far
as uh prostate cancer and next month, um, thank you Justin for bringing that uh to our attention. health matters are um extremely important and I do recall we have done something with prostate cancer in the past. Um so hopefully we'll be
able to uh put something together um because it is um a very serious uh cancer for our men in our community and especially our black men. Um so looking forward to see what uh comes up about that.
Uh want to just put a small plug in uh to the community anyone um ready for the game. Um the West Orange Arts Center Gallery is hosting every Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 soccer ball painting. So please bring your family. It's a
wonderful uh opportunity. Um the uh West Orange Arts Council received 100 balls from the Red Bulls. So we appreciate that partnership. um again working with the Chamber of Commerce and Edy who uh works at the U YMCA and uh Livingston um
was instrumental in helping us secure those balls and um just seeing the community come out and really get ready for FIFA um and have fun with their children and their families is a wonderful and welcoming experience at the Art Center Council Gallery that's no
longer funded by our township. Uh, I think that is all I have, Council President. I think the other comments I can, um, indicate when we get to them in the agenda. Thank you. >> Thank you, Counciloman.
>> Thank you, uh, Council President. Um, just one note I have for Deputy, uh, Chief here this evening, um, that wasn't addressed earlier with the comments, the light at Mitchell and Gregory. Um it's I guess there was a traffic guard not
present uh a couple Okay. So we're going to look at that and Okay. Yeah, that's very that's very troublesome. Okay, great. So make sure also in regards to some of the parking issues with the commercial vehicles. I I mean I and I
see this on my my side. I live in the Eagle Rock late to Lord's area town um where there's parking overnight on the street parking and you know so many times I get frustrated I have to call the chief and I know you guys been great
to go out but just the inconsistencies with the commercial vehicles at night like they really need we on the street not only just in the driveways but also on the street um we have an ordinance so folks know that they also can't be in
the driveways And a lot of times that forces um people to park their own cars when they're parking their commercial vehicles in their own driveways. So whatever we could do to clean that up, even you know working with zoning, which they've been good about as well, but we
just need to get there. Thank you everyone for coming out and just hearing all your commentary and how frustrated you all are. There's not much we we could do or say.
You have to live with this over and over and over again. It's been an ongoing issue. We had I like the way Councilman Koviaak uh approached it tonight. An opportunity to to create parkings for you. And unfortunately, I just don't see
the support for that tonight. And and I totally understand because it is with 280 with the way the streets are configured down there. Like let's face it, that whole area was once a walkable
community that you know folks did not have cars or that's where you have a uh too many properties without driveways. Um, and that mirrors on the other side of town as well, but you have 280 right there. And the traffic back up from 280
comes two ways. It comes comes down from Northfield and over on Valley Road. And it's a nightmare. So, I understand your fear for the um for the one ways when we did it on Letington.
It's funny. Last time I I I ran for office, I went back to Lennington and and the few of the folks that came to our meetings back then said, "Ah, I'm used to it now." But they don't have what you have in regards to
so much going on. You know, they could get, you know, yes, you got to go up the hill to get to to go around to come back home, but it's not a big deal because you don't have to sit in traffic to do that. And so I understand why everybody's so upset this evening, but I
do see it as the only way to obtain more parking spots. And so I don't I don't know what we're what we're going to decide to do. Also disappointing and not to the director's fault, you know, that it's $42,000 to to
do a pilot program. So that's also frustrating to hear. Again, nobody's fault. This is just the cards that are dealt with this whole situation. I am going to express again to administration and you know the prior administration
did not want to lift um any of the parking restrictions that have been there for a very long time. So don't be surprised folks in the air watching this that we're not going to see folks from Glenn and Oakidge and that area that have had the permits for what 15 years
probably um come out next week. And again, I it's just like, you know, we talk about running water. So, it it's it's a tough fix. It's really really a tough fix. Um I'm going to ask administration to once again to to meet
with the headmaster to see what we could do. What I did find out in my talks with the headmaster, uh, enrollment has increased at Satan Hall and and that's what I think is causing the problem and you're seeing going back to 2020, but it it's just like I said, it's just not Satan Hall. I was pulling up an article
and you could read about Clifton. Clifton had implemented what we're doing now. They have the same mirroring issues and they issued the permit parking and they still have the problem. They are still having it and
you could look it up. Um it's like impossible to park. We typically go like four or five streets. We just walked back. Parking has been a long issue in Clifton, but residents said it has worsened in recent years as the city's population has grown since 2020. The
increase has led to more vehicles on the streets that were not designated to accommodate them. Infrastructure wasn't built and and we all know this year several factors are contributing to the s shortage including multifamily homes and multiple vehicles per house, streets without driveways and increase in
designated handicap spaces which we know Mitchell Street, we know that's a big problem. There's numerous ones on Mitchell Street. uh residents also point out uh confusion around surrounding the permit system and inconsistent
enforcement. So again, here's a, you know, a city that tried to implement this and are having issues. And um, not to say that it can't work here, but again, there I don't think there's any
great ideal solution, but that can't be an excuse for us not to get something in play here for these residents immediately. Um, to lift the restriction, I believe, is going to require us to pass new ordinances to lift the restriction. Am I correct?
>> Likely. >> Yeah. So, we could get started on that and we could talk about impending matters later on. Um, and maybe I don't know we for attorney I I know we had a few mentions of of the at or you know
some ordinances and what's ready, what's not ready. You know, our attorney has been super busy since he's gotten here. All our attorneys have been super busy. And um but again, I think there may need to be a conversation. I don't know what we can and can't do with with this
school. Um and it's a it's a private high school. Someone mentioned uh that it's a university, so it's not that large, but I know they've been also looking for alternatives. And I don't know how we can keep other than putting permitted parking all over that whole
area, how do we keep their students off of our streets? Well, uh, there was an interesting idea that was floated out, uh, during the comment. I don't recall who brought it up and and I don't know the the history as to what may have been
tried in the past and not, uh, but it did seem interesting to explore the possibility of having an agreement with the school for overnight parking on their parking lot. >> It may be something that has a price tag
associated with it. I don't know, but I'm not sure exactly what the relationship is with the school, but we could certainly explore that if uh that's something that our uh professionals involved in the assessment think could be helpful. >> And and just so that for your for your
acknowledgement and for residents that don't realize on Prospect Avenue, there's plenty of parking for the Satan Hall students. They have a whole area and they have a a a jity service to go down to Satan Hall, but kids are kids
and they just don't want to park there and they're just going to, you know, torment our uh our residents. So, you know, so at some point, mayor and administration and our attorney, you know, there needs to be another pow-wow
soon with with Satan Hall to uh to see what they can do. Um, with that being said, I do appreciate everyone coming down and um, I I do feel for you. I have I don't have that those kind of issues in my
neighborhood, but I know what it's like to get your driveway blocked at night and in the morning. I've had to call the cops many times, please, in the past. And, uh, it's frustrating. Really, really frustrating. I've um, juggle cars. I've done that when my kids all
drove. And um yeah, so there's there's a lot that we need to look at here. On another note, uh the Quantis Club, that was great to see them here this evening and I thank them for uh starting such a
great um service organ, another great service organization coming to West Orange and not surprised to see Susan Palamucci leading the uh way there. um you know, always a a a busy uh advocate uh for our school community for many
years. So to see her in this new role, uh I'm not surprised and I wish them well. Um Jitney Jen, uh Jen, I thank her for coming down and I'm glad uh she saw um the meeting last night. I know the
expenses are high. We've been talking for the past couple years of charging um which I don't think the Jity um you know the Jity uh users are opposed to but we haven't implemented anything and then and how do we would help supplement the
costs? I know the costs are rising. We talked about some solutions last night. Um again we you know I appreciate people that want to be on the committee but you know we talk about transparency. We got to make sure that we have the people that actually use the Jitney be involved
as well. So I appreciate council president. If uh I'll get you uh uh Jen's contact information. Uh she's been pulling my good her well. >> Yeah about this many. >> She she's been instrumental many years and and assisting uh I've been in
meetings uh many years with her and some of the writers. So um again we're facing tough times. with costs going up. We saw the devastation with our school system this past week and um but we need to
find that balance. Tonight's all been about balance and uh and we can't wait on that. Uh Mr. Gibbons mentioned, you know, the rodents in his neighborhood and and the issues he had last year and he forgot to mention not once uh did
this happen to his vehicle, but uh but twice. So, I'm not surprised to always see him at our meetings. But again, um one other comment with the survey I know went to the property owners, not the residents. Um correct me, director. So
maybe that's why some of you did not receive it because it went to the property owners. Um if we could address the issue with the vacant home that's been there for 12 years cuz I don't know what we can or can't do. So, I would assume a bank
would own it by now. Um, but if we could just look into that and just want to make one comment. Um, I know there's a lot of angst in the community this week. You know, I I know that the mayor made a comment and things
aren't always perfect. In regards to the uh pride celebration, we look forward to that every year. In fact, downtown one year we missed it. It it didn't, you know, for whatever reason. Um the organizers didn't um
organize something last year. Our downtown made sure that happened. Um they had a great event last year to, you know, so we very always always consider it and we want to make sure we're very inclusive here in the community. Um, but I think part of what the problem was is
when that and I had talked to our former uh mayor when you know that event first happened which was a great event. We had chalk art and everything. The the actual flag itself was never supposed to be permanent. That was a temporary supposed
to wash away with watercolor. Somebody uh painted it in oil base and so it didn't wash away. and um and uh you know it was supposed to happen each year for Pride Month. They would you know go come back and and do it again for for the
month which is very appropriate. So um mayor I know you're trying to look at other alternatives. My recommendation would be and I know we had the ordinance but I wouldn't be painting anything on on the steps impermanent. Um, I just, you know, we just have angsts again in
the community this past week and it's a shame because we all want to come together and uh be inclusive and respectful for with each other and um unfortunately you know there's always hard feelings and uh you know we can't
afford to have that here in the township. So um I appreciate mayor giving your statement this evening. I know I know you felt bad about it. Um, with that being said, um, FIFA, just one last comment. Um, Fan Bus is coming to
the Street Fair on June 6. Um, we're really excited about that. Uh, and so, yeah, we're looking for a great event with the World Cup Cup coming to our area. And, um, thank you again everybody for coming out tonight. I know it was a
a tough evening. Thank you. >> Yes. Ah, thank you. There it is. There it is. Thank you, Council President. >> Okay, before I'm going to be brief with my public comment for I think Councilwoman Kakovia has something.
>> Yes. Thank you, Council President. Just very briefly, I'm sorry I forgot to mention this when I spoke. Uh, one of the late speakers uh, Miss Lenek uh, gave kudos to the valley uh, people in their issues, but she also asked what
was the status of the rest of the township. And I just wanted to while our experts are here if somebody could just give a status of of when those uh those areas might be addressed uh moving forward please. So, Councilman, um, for those who may
have not heard, we when we did these presentations, we did mention that we identified that we're going to work in stages to address um, areas of of concern and and the Valley area by agreement and I think by many that were
up here at the time too, we're saying that Valley probably has the highest priority with the with the Lord's height section having fairly close but not as many concerns, you know, and I don't I'm not trying to trivialize. It's just that that was the identity identity and that
our our looking at it, we can't attack every single section at the same time. One for a feasibility and two for money and, you know, funding and things of that nature. So, um once we we come to some kind of solution and and problem
solving in the valley, our next direction would be in that area. So, we're that's why we're trying to work on this because we know it's a priority for everybody. We know it's a um it's a slow process and um we've mentioned this many times myself and Councilwoman Nails, we move at the speed of government
unfortunately and u you know, so we're we're we're trying to get this addressed because it is a priority um and we understand that parking is an issue. Um so, I understand that and um so that's that's what we're going to be looking to do. And if I misspoke on that, if
anybody here has anything else to contribute, I welcome their comments. >> Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Mr. I'm going to be very brief because my colleagues have done a great job in answering all the questions, but to our Hazel mom, I want to thank you for your
compassionate and common sense approach. Um, I too I am at Washington School. I'm a speech pathologist there. I understand your concern for our second language learners and uh our families that do not speak English. We really need to have
more sensitivity to them and their needs. Um the fact that the traffic was not considered and the way it would be rerouted is something that only someone who uses those streets would know. Um, it doesn't make sense to me to spend
$40,000 to turn our streets into a parking lot and inconvenience the residents like that. Um, so you know, of course, I think we need to look for other solutions. And Susan Lenek said it best, and I've said this to Joy Bernett
because I've watched as all of your neighbors have come here over and over. Nobody knows their neighborhood better than the residents who live there. And we need to listen to our residents and we need to facilitate their input and it
might be difficult to get a hold of everybody but we need to do that and the same is true for the Jity. You know the Jity is a vital vital resource for our community. No one thinks that we should discontinue the Jity. What we do need to
do especially with all the development that we have going on I like to take a strategic approach. I've been concerned about the cost of the jity because it's doubled. It skyrocketed out of control. It was all out of control before, but we need to definitely look at how to make
it run more efficiently. You know, my degree, my MBA was in international marketing. I believe that you listen to your customers and your customers drive your solutions. And that's exactly what I'm going to do, which is why I actually
formed a group to look at this, to study it from both a financial point of view and a marketing point of view. I'm going to be reaching out to Jennifer Sheret. I know her well, and she's actually talked to me about the Jity service for two years now. And she would be a wonderful person to give us input and work with us
on that. And there are other residents as well who I've talked to over the years who really understand this situation. and we are going to take an approach where we get our the input from our residents as well as looking at all
the financials. But thank you so much. Um and I think that's really all I'm going to say tonight because my colleagues have really covered everything. So >> okay session >> uh not till after we finished the right if we're going to finish the or what Mr.
Smaldo we were going to do our work before we go into executive session. That's your pleasure. You know, we do have our professionals here both to answer the questions, but we also have our professional. >> You know what? If they're here, we don't want to waste time and money. Yeah. Let's let's go. Uh I'll make a motion to go into executive session.
>> I'll second that. Okay. >> That's to recess. >> You have to announce when we're coming back. >> Oh. Um we really have a lot to talk about. So, I would say I'll come back in an hour and let you know if it's going to go on to a second. >> Two hours. >> Two hours. Okay. Two hours.
>> Two hours. So you may want to watch >> before we we break. >> I don't know if there's if it makes sense. We have director Kabalo sitting here. If there's any questions you may have about her presentations, I mean this will be the opportunity because I'm not going to let her sit here. >> No, we don't want her sitting here for two hours.
>> Can I also make another recommendation? So you have ordinances on second and final reading where the public can >> can comment. I highly recommend that we do those do that section before we go into See if there's anyone who's
>> It should It should go quick. >> Yeah. Is there any Is there anyone in the >> You can't do that. Don't you have to Do you don't you have to read the ordinance? >> No, she can pull. >> Oh, I can pull them. Okay. >> Yeah. I think most of the people who comment are read the agenda. And we do have two ordinances on second reading.
Three. And they're related to traffic. Um we've had no opposition in the first reading. Is there anyone who would like to comment on them? >> Well, two are related to traffic. The third one is the calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits.
>> And this is just fall because you're going to open up. >> I'm just Is there anyone who wants to speak about any of these issues? >> I know Miss Bennett already spoke with us about the uh the cap. >> If you if you want to speak again, we'll
do the we can do it, but >> No. Okay. I think I think we'll just go into executive. I >> but I I do want to ask a question. >> Let's we can we can ask questions when we come back about everything. >> No, she Why make a Oh, about director
Carbalo's here too. We have >> Yeah, we we have our >> just do the I do have a question for director Carbalo. >> Go ahead. um for the our residents have come to us talking about the traffic coming down on
on Northfield Avenue. >> Um I'm sorry, Mount Pleasant Avenue. How did you determine that that the speed limit would be >> I think you said uh 35 and not 25 or 30.
We also talk about the trees too before we go. >> I can't remember her. >> If I am not mistaken, I responded to this email. And it was in regards to your question. The entire stretch along Mount Pleasant including Gregory Avenue
to Main Street is where a lot of accident occurs. The new residents of the senior buildings are complaining about speeding especially as this is an area where motion motorist shoot off of 280. This area should be reduced to 25 not 35. Why is this change being done? So my
response to you was the 85%al speed is typically used to set the posted speed limit and it is often often rounded to the nearest 5 mileph increment. It is considered that those motorists that travel above 85% speed are to be
exceeding the reasonable speed for road and traffic conditions. That being said, the 85% speed at 46 Mlesen Avenue westbound was measured at 34 miles per hour and the 85%
speed at Green Street Road was measured at 41 mile per hours eastbound and westbound. I did attach the stat trackers for you that were collected from the um West Orange PD. Mhm. >> So therefore, the speed limit supported by the study is also 35 mph, which is
where it's going to be posted. And the reason why we're doing the ordinance is because when I requested the county engineer to post the speed limit on Mount Pleasant Avenue, he requested from us an ordinance which was not in the code. The only ordinance that we have
for Mount Pleasant Avenue speed limit was the one from Prospect Avenue to Jones Place >> which was for the 20 m per hour which I believe it was the one of my predecessor back in 2022. >> Mhm. >> And now we changed it for to 25 due to
the curvature of the road from Prospect Avenue to Gregory Avenue and then from Gregory Avenue traffic light down to Main Street then to be the 35 miles per hour. >> Okay. So this the tracker was tracking at at 34. >> Yes.
>> So this isn't this is actually an increase if if it was tracking at 34 and now >> was tracking at 34 in one direction and 41 on the other. So when you said the the when you take into account it's plus or minus 5 miles per hour
>> for the 85% speed. >> So 85% of the >> roadway users are driving at that speed. It makes no sense to reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hours when nobody's driving at that speed limit. And who is going to enforce it >> or 30 miles an hour? I'm just concerned
is this really addressing the the issues that the resident from the resident from um the senior house um came and spoke to us several times. Is this a significant enough reduction? Because what you're you're getting is really just a 5 mile
per hour reduction. In other words, if you're saying coming down the hill, it was 41 >> on both directions. It was 41 mile per hours at Green Tree Street >> and it was right here in front of the uh senior building was 34. So, we're making
it 35 miles per hour. I discussed this with the Orange PD and based on the data collected, yes, it should be 35 miles per hour and I believe even the county had even something higher than that, more like 40. Will there be any radar signs that will go up so that it's very
clear that there's been a change? How will this How will this be? Um, >> are you asking for LED? >> LED? >> Yeah. >> Well, I says that's a request that I will have to make the county engineer on Thursday when I go begging for a traffic light. >> Okay. >> Otherwise, the township is going to have
to pay for it. Just like I'm paying for a lot of the LED flashing signs on Gregory Avenue. If you want me to keep spending the money and you find the money, sure, why not? If you could ask the county also to help with that, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay. I see Mr. Kip is here and I think
he's here on 13226. Um, Councilwoman Ruden, did you have any questions? >> No, I do not. >> Or would you like him to No. >> Okay. All right. So, Mr. Kip, unless you want have anything to say, would you like to Okay, just quickly. No.
>> He sat here all night. Least we could do is give him a couple minutes. Yes. Good afternoon or good evening I guess now. >> Good night. >> It's almost good midnight for me but >> good morning. You >> say good morning. >> I've been here. Yes, but I've been have
been here since six. So, >> but anyway, I just wanted to talk about planting other why we wanted to um pass the uh appropriations. >> Um we want to file the tree ordinance as
best we can. We are we are exempt from it but we follow it anyway. So we have we have about 4,000 vacancies in town which means planting sites. Uh we're going to have about 200 trees to plant. We are planting native trees. Uh all the
trees on the list are native including the Princeton elm Americana cultivar Princeton. It is a Native American elm that's native to Princ Princeton. It was developed in Princeton by
collecting samples in the in the 20 in the 1920s from native trees that were immune to Dutch elegance and they combine them together to make this Princeton elm. Took them about 100 years to get it down, but now they got it. So
good tree to plant in the street like salt doesn't mind. It doesn't mind pollution. It doesn't mine poor soils. It doesn't mind wet soils, which we all have here. Good tree for the street. And it's vase shaped, so the trees don't grow out like this. Grows up so the
trucks don't hit it. >> And low maintenance for pruning. So, it's a very good solid tree. Very little, very long pruning in like seven to 10 years you have to prune these in, which is not normally what it is. It's
usually three to five, but these are a lot better for pruning. Uh reason why we need the deer fencing is because we're planting native species and native species are loved by deer. That's their preferred. They eat the leaves off. >> Okay.
>> So that's why we're planting native species. We are planting native species but they were going to have to have some protection from the deer that even coming down here to holiday. I see them every morning. So they they're all over
the all from the valley to the heights. They're all over everywhere here. Uh so we do need this the uh deer fencing in certain areas because the deer are destroying the trees. >> Trees they destroying.
>> The reason why we chose the 15 gallon pot to two to two and a half inch caliber tree is because the space between the sidewalk and the curb. We have a 10 inch about a 10 inch uh cement block underneath the Belgian
blocks that that take up about 10 inches of space. So there's about 18 inches of space to plant a tree in. So the smaller balls will go in there. The bigger two two and a halfs go where there's no sidewalk. So we don't have to worry
about that. As far as the root barrier goes, we're putting them next just next to the sidewalk. A lot of residents do complain about roots lifting up their sidewalk and destroying them. >> So, it gives you about roughly about 25 years of
the root not going under the sidewalk. It goes very deep in the ground. As the trees mature, of course, they come up because they're getting bigger, but it's about 25 years of help. So, that's why we wanted to do the root beer. And we're only doing the root bears on the
sidewalk side where the trees are going to be planted near the sidewalk. Just makes sense to help the resident out because that is their number one complaint. That's why they don't want trees in front of their house. >> Great. Sounds like it's very well thought out. Thank you so much. >> And my and my goal is to have a tree in front of everybody's house. So that's
that's why there's 4,000 vacancies. >> Great. Thank you. >> That's basically what I had to say today. And if you have any questions, let me know. >> Anybody have any questions or we'll get >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for hanging in so long. >> I don't need a tree. >> I want a tree, but All right. So, we'll
go into move to executive session. >> Okay. Well, maybe >> second. >> Second. We already did it. Yeah, we did. We did. >> We did it. >> But thank you. Glenn, I forgot the odds, right?
>> Okay, thank you Zoom audience for for your patience. As you can see, town council is back from executive session, well ahead of the 45minut estimate. At this time, I'd like to turn the floor over to our council president.
>> Thank you. Thank you everyone for sticking with us >> both in person and on Zoom. >> Okay. Is there a motion to adjourn the executive session and return public meeting? >> Second. >> All in favor? I
>> motion carries. Hey, let's roll. Okay. >> All right. Now do any report of the officers all that? Yeah, we got to do >> minutes. >> Okay. So, um, approval of minutes of previous meeting, budget meeting April 27th, 2026, and public meeting April 28th.
>> Report of township officers, none. Reading of petitions and communications and bids. Bid repair and maintenance of buses for the West Orange Public Works Department and RFQ for the public health nurse supervisor 2026 27. What's that? >> I'd like to know is that is that public
health nurse supervisor replacement position or is that a new position? >> That's the position we spoke about yesterday for um uh that's the doctor of uh nurse practitioner. The existing one
that we have now it's a renewal of that contract. The same same person we used. >> Okay. Bill list. Are there any questions on the bills? >> Yes. I'd like to pull um I don't know the number of this one.
Um the bill list for Greg Pastor. >> The bills for Greg Pastor. >> Yes. >> All of them. >> There's only one. >> Oh. Well, I don't know. I don't have it in front of me. >> I just want to I want to I want somebody else to review this. This is a $10,000.
This is a $10,000 bill for 95% of it being Oprah work. >> Yes, he does a lot of Oprah work. >> I'm confused about that. Why Why is he doing so much Oprah work? >> Because when we get documents back from a department, we have to have the
attorney review them for us and then, you know, they have to redact and whatever. So depending on I mean obviously not the building department permits and things like that but we get a lot of um voluminous requests that he has to for instance we got a request
where I was given 2,000 pages yesterday that he is going to have to review for redactions >> and and and we did have some opas over the last month that dealt with uh litigation matters
uh And we want to make sure that there's nothing that's confidential or privileged in them. Uh and there were opas that dealt with personnel matters as well. >> Uh particularly with respect to uh I I
know that we had some regarding the former chief. >> Was that within the last 30 days or Pat? I don't know. >> No, I think that was prior. >> Prior. Okay. >> Yeah. But there's, you know, >> Oprah is not easy. It's it's complicated
and it's tedious and it's voluminous at times. And >> you've got some over 700 for >> Yeah. I think it was up to 68 685 or 686 like that. >> You're only allowed to charge 5 cents a
page if they pick it up. If you email it, there's no charge and that's all statemandated. So seven cents a page for legal size. >> Okay. >> We are allowed to charge if they want plans they have to pay for that. Um you know DVDs.
Um what else? >> I'd just like to know is anybody over um is there any oversight on this bill? >> Has anybody else looked at this bill >> to approve all of this? >> Would that be the legal director?
>> I I don't think that I reviewed this bill. >> Yeah. I I don't have the answer to that. >> Okay. So, can I pull this and and have you review? >> We have to take a vote on that if you're going to pull it. >> Yeah, I will. Yeah, I will review it. Um,
sure. >> Mr. Samero, do we have to have a motion to pull because from what I understood, it has to be the majority of the council that, you know, >> correct. Agrees. Okay. >> Can I ask a question? However, um we can
go ahead and pay it and he can still review it. Correct. And then if there's any errors or anything, then we can just >> correct it with the next bill, right? >> Yeah, that'd be probably do that. >> Thank you. >> So, I'm not going to vote to pull it. >> All right. Well, I need a motion to I
don't need that yet. >> I I I got a I got a question. Not a question, but a recommendation. So, for Mr. Samrara, you are the correct me the legal director.
So I'm I'm assuming shame on me for soon that anything that's a bill coming from your department you're reviewing. Should I know? >> That that was a bit of an assumption. I
have reviewed a couple of them. >> Okay. >> Um but I could uh Mr. pastor's bills. I could have him submit them to me prospectively and and review them before they come in. >> Well, yeah, because how are we going to know if you you know like you have a
bill from one of the attorneys that you assigned falls under you. So, you would know the workload and if the bill is correct. >> Just so you know, that happens all the time. >> Okay. >> But, uh in in other towns, but if you want me to review it, I'll I'll
definitely I'll instruct him accordingly. Yeah. >> Well, then who's reviewing the bills? >> There there should be some oversight. >> Somebody has to we're sending most depending on the department and we've been sending them to the directors. I look over the Mr. Rivera. No, no, I'm
saying in regard to the departments, I'll look over Mr. Rivera since it does with employees. Um the uh director Adams will look over for the planning and zoning, but we um um we can discuss how we're going to break these up. >> Someone has to.
>> So we have oversight on this. You know, >> I'm assuming they're reviewed when we get them on a bill list >> and we're and we're having people sign off on them. We have director Carbalo reviews bills. So we have them reviewing too just to make sure that everything's on the up and up.
>> Okay, that's I also want to just ask a question. We had we had a 5,000 a $5,500 bill, I believe, from um dynamic traffic. We had this whole conversation today. Are we going forward with those resolutions?
>> As of right now, no. We we can do one of two things. We can put the resolutions on and you guys can vote them down, which it appears to be that way. Or we just don't put them on. We have a discussion. We're going to I'm going to talk to dynamic tomorrowy with the or Thursday, whatever. >> Can we stay on the agenda? It's 1:00 >> now. I want to I want to make sure of
this because we >> we can do that at new business pending matters. >> I would like to finish asking one question because this has to do with the bill. We were charged $5,500. It's on the bill this week. It was very specifically for this plan that the
administration wanted to put up. We had this whole presentation. I'd like to know if we're going to be engaging legal to write these ordinances or whether or not there will be any consultation with the council before before we engage. >> Any bills or resolution that was going
to come up as a result of this was already taken care of by our staff. They wrote them up already for for consideration. They didn't go through legal. So, but they're not presented to you. So, we did them in anticipation that if you were to accept this, we'd have them ready for you. But that has nothing to
do with It didn't cost us. It only cost us labor within the department. Not legal. >> Okay. So, is there a motion to pull the the Greg pastures bill? >> No reason to pull and I'll I'll review it. >> Just review it.
>> I'll notify of any adjustment. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Resolutions. Are any resolutions being pulled this evening? Do we rec I would like to to just pull for comment for 139. >> I'm sorry.
>> Pull for comment 139 >> for >> before we vote on it. >> Oh, okay. Well, it doesn't need to be pulled. you can just make your comment unless you want to vote a different way or >> No, I' I'd like to make I'd like to make a comment because
>> um from from the resolution that was presented to us, the bids came in too high. So, another bid is going to go out. This has been a very problematic um project because the the senior gardeners initially thought that they
were included in this. they were called and now now we are just looking at a bid spec that will include only e exercise equipment. So if that is what is going to be put out again, I would like to know is this only exercise equipment?
And if it's not, I would like the senior gardeners to have a look at the bid before the bid goes out so that we can avoid this whole situation where the bid goes out, we come back with exercise equipment, and then we hear the same story again that there was a bait and
switch with this grant and vote it down. So, I'd like to include the senior gardeners in this. And I I I'm asking if the senior gardeners can be included in this before the bid goes out. >> Okay. >> Because right now what I'm hearing is
that all of the project for the senior gardens gardeners is not included. >> Counciloman Kesley. So, all I'm going to say is, which I say every time this comes up, that that exercise equipment and and I believe Mikey Cheryl even
mentioned it when we got the $250,000 check was for says it right on the check that it was for exercise equipment. There was not a bait and switch. What happened was they were supposed to they were enhancing the garden, which was a
good thing. Other needs came along along the way. This thing became a political football that is just so unnecessary. They don't even want to be talking about at 1:00 in the morning. And we have to have to work with our public again.
We're micromanaging the administration by having now residents examine bid specs. That's so inappropriate, Councilwoman. And I I feel for the gardeners. I think they're awesome. I think they want to do great things. But again, this grant was never never
intended to just be for the for that garden. >> I didn't say it was just for the garden. >> You said fade and switch. >> I said it was intended for the Veio garden and the the senior gardener added on in an afterthought one exercise
equipment and then it went back to >> No, no, no, you weren't there. I was. So, let's It's 1:00 in the morning. I will argue this to two o'clock in the morning if you want me to. I was there and you weren't. >> If I may, I I I you did make a
recommendation. The administration heard it, but this is this the the preparation of bids, that's an executive function. >> Yeah. >> So, uh you don't have the ability to direct them. >> Your comments noted. >> Yes. >> And and I think that certainly the
administrator could take it under advisement and uh instruct a director. Uh but I think that that's about the extent that we should discuss that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Are any resolutions being pulled this evening?
>> I move um for consent agenda. Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> The consent agenda is implemented. >> Then we've already done the or we still have >> the ordinances. Okay. Ordinances on second and final reading. 2970-26,
an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7, traffic subsection 7-29.1, speed limits in general of the revised general ordinances of West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on second? >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay.
Councilwoman Castelino, yes. >> Council Councilman Koviaak, Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Scorpa, >> yes. public hearing. Uh >> would anyone in in the audience like to make public comment on ordinance 2970?
>> I move to close public comment. >> Okay. Second. >> Thank you. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kroak. Yes. Councilwoman Ruden >> to close public comment. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Council President Scorp.
>> Yes. Okay. The motion carries. >> Move for the adoption of the second and final reading. 297026. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> abstain. >> Okay. Councilwoman Williams,
>> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. >> Okay. Just write that down. >> Okay. Next is 2971-26, an ordinance mending and supplementing chapter 7 traffic section 32.2, two
restricted parking zones at the municipal code to West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on second? >> Second. >> You, Councilwoman Castelino, yes. >> Councilman Kakoviaak. Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Council President Scarpa.
>> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Public hearing. >> Is there anyone in the audience who would like to make public comment on 297126? >> I move to close public comment. >> Second. Councilwoman Castelino, yes. Counciloman
Koviaak, Councilwoman Ruden, yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President, >> yes. >> I move the adoption of 2971. Second, >> Council, I'm sorry, Councilwoman Castelino. >> We
uh 2971. >> Yeah, this is for the adoption. >> It's adopting. >> Council Councilwoman. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Scarpa, yes. Motion carries.
>> Okay. 2972-26 calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. Is there a motion to introduce on second and final? >> A second. >> Thank you. >> Councilwoman Castelino, yes.
>> Councilman Koviaak, yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. >> Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Is there anyone in the audience who'd like to make public comment on 2972? No, that was just that was this is
public meeting and now you have an opportunity >> public hearing Bernett Terrace. Um I don't even understand why this would be proposed. You're involved in a budget hearing, a number of budget hearings to cut the
budget, not to expand it, >> and yet you're proposing that we expand the allowable appropriations. It It makes no sense. Um, I would just ask that you turn this down. If there's
a problem next year or the year after, you address it then. But just because somebody suggested that we need to do this so that we don't have a problem 2 years from now, I'm sorry, it doesn't make any sense.
The whole proposal doesn't make sense. I'd ask that you turn it down. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to add to something to that. Our our CFO has already said that it does not really matter. We we need to close the public hearing. I move to close the public hearing.
>> Okay. >> Second. >> Second. >> Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Counciloman Koviaak. Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Our CFO has already said that it is really does not make
>> for adoption and then have public com I mean then have us comment or no. >> No. You get this question out to >> Okay. >> Whether or not this >> wasn't a motion movie yet, right? Not a good discussion. >> This is the third year in a row that we
are being asked to or this council is being asked to pass a cap. Um it should not be a regular occurrence that we are asked. It should be only for extenduating circumstances and I see no need to do that when we are
all steadfast on cutting the budget. >> Hold on. Council. >> No, that's fine. No, go ahead. >> No, let's move. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> no. >> Okay, the motion carries. Okay. Now, uh, none no ordinances on first reading, pending matters, new matters,
council discussion. I just want to guarantee that that next time uh at the next meeting that the cannabis ordinance will be on. It will be on. >> I'm already working on the agenda. It's on. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Is there any other pending matters?
>> No. Make a motion to close close the second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Any opposed? The meeting is adjourned. >> Thank you. Best star.