Good evening, West Orange, and welcome to the township council meeting for January 20th, 2026. We are live streaming to you from council chamber 66 Main Street. As always, there is no public comment on Zoom, but if you'd like to join us, we're here at 66 Main
Street. At this time, I'd like to turn the meeting over to our council president. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Fagens. Welcome everyone. Uh we are so thrilled tonight in our conference agenda to be able to welcome our West Orange High School
president soccer team. >> I need to open the meeting. >> Oh, okay. Go ahead. >> Sorry about that. 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. >> Councilwoman Ruden >> here. >> Councilwoman uh did it again. Councilwoman Williams >> present. >> Councilman Koviaak
>> present. >> Council President Scarpa >> present. >> Mayor McCartney. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Yes. Now we can welcome our um West Orange High School soccer team. I just want to say we are so proud of all of
our West Orange soccer team. They have um really represented our community so well. Uh we attended last yesterday our Martin Luther King celebration and uh Mike Guerrero of our Guerrero Gelato
right there by West Orange High School in Pleasantale described the word community as a verb and I think he is right. what you guys have done is really incredible in representing our
community. You are doing wonderful things and we really do all appreciate it. Uh Mayor McCartney, would you like to come up? >> Thank you, Council President. So, this is a wonderful way to start the new
year. Um just last week we had the arts council taking the actually Western Arch High School students taking pictures of our athletes uh sports action photos. We had a reception for the three gentlemen that did that. Um as
council president just mentioned yesterday has a wonderful Martin Luther King event and tonight we're here to celebrate you and your coach. So, this is right off of the coach, right? That at the soccer
coaches association of New Jersey, their 56th annual awards banquet, West Orange boys soccer showed up strong, just like they did all season, number one public school in New Jersey with Doug Neans,
their coach, state coach of the year, and regional coach of the year. So I'm going to ask council president I mean I'm sorry council colleague Michelle Castelino the board of ed liaison to join us. We have Mark we're here to celebrate Marcus Jackson national player of the year and all-American Marcus
Jackson and Carl Hall regional all-Americans and seven allstate players Marcus Jackson Carl Hall Diesa Darius Millington Nico Shabaro Justin Amaya and Chase wins. We're so proud of
you. proud of this group, this program, and the standard that you continue to set. And I'm really proud of them for four of them are my graduates, my uh preschool graduates, council woman. You go,
>> let's change this. >> Thank you, Mayor, and welcome, mountaineers. What a great season. This is just so exciting. always so uh so proud uh for the township and uh I see the smiles on uh your family's faces in
the back and uh and uh just is a great great accomplishment. You have really outdone yourselves once again this year with this program. It's one of the most successful outstanding programs in the state and you should all should be proud of that. But that doesn't come easy. As
we know, it's a team sport and there's no I in team, right? And this is great lessons that you learn because not only in your athletic careers, but you'll see when you get a little older like all of us up here. And if you don't work together as a team, you just don't get
the job done. And you certainly have worked as a team and always get the job done. And that you should always be proud of. And that should be a life lesson that will take you from today. And I know you had a lot of banquetss and a lot of great celebrations, but that is the one lesson you should always
learn. It's all we're always proud at West Orange High School, too. It's not just about um the wins, is also about your academics. And I know with our our coach of the year. Um he has always been supportive of that and making sure um
you know he was a Villanova grad, Villanova grad as you all must know and how hard it is to work and to be an athlete to accomplish that. And so always keep striving, always keep uh pushing forward because so many great things will come for all of you. Um I do
just want to take a second to congratulate uh Coach Neans and his staff which we'll call up in a in a minute. uh over 400 career wins and and and that is just such an outstanding feat and we we got to clap for both
>> and and he has a a great staff that's been with him for a very long time. Uh know personally remember years ago co coach Christian and uh and uh Brian Martinez as well. So, I remember when he was the Gatorade player of the year when my son played football back at at the
high school. So, just great accomplishments. Enjoy this time in your life and uh just just keep working hard. Um, Coach Neans and your staff, if you'd like to come up real quick. Okay. So, as mayor said, coach named uh
was named 2025 United Soccer Coaches large school and regional coach of the year. Uh and uh you could stand also our senior captain Marcus J uh Jackson. Marcus, you in the audience right there?
Yeah. you know, young man, we see your your uh picture uh on the banners in town and rightfully so. So, great great job. Very outstanding and congratulations to you and and your team for all of you getting there. I'm going to let the coach say a
couple things before I read the recognition. And coach, go right ahead. >> Thank you very much. Um, whenever I get to speak at uh, town council meetings, board of ed meetings, I always say that I'm, you know, I'm not just a teacher and a coach in town, but I've proudly
lived in West Orange since 1999. My wife Angie and I, uh, our daughter Natalie went through the schools and is an adult now. Um, it makes it a little more special that I've known a lot of these kids since they were little. Um, and this was just a really special group.
Um, a lot of the stats kind of explain it. If you didn't see a game, to play 26 games and score a 100 goals and only concede 14 is like video game numbers. That doesn't normally happen. I've been doing this 26 years. Uh, many years we
struggle to get 40 goals. Uh, to score 100 goals, playing in the hardest division in the state. We played, I think, eight teams ranked in the top 20. um played the number one team in the in the country twice. It it was a very very difficult schedule and these guys were
were excellent. Um and although Marcus has gotten a lot of deserved awards, Carl got a lot of deserved awards, there's a lot of um players that whether they were starters or reserves did so many important things that don't always
get the recognition. And I think that's why we had such an outstanding team. when you have star players that are great leaders and you have other senior leaders, uh, someone like Luke Brown, our third captain, who was unlucky to be injured
for like 80% of the season. And yet, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he was just a positive force all year. And the underassman were great. They played so well. They they did everything we asked of them. I have to be thankful for all of my
assistants, uh, especially Freddy Christian, who I'm going to date myself. I coached him when he was 12 years old, which was a lot a lot of years ago. Uh, needless to say, we know each other quite well. Uh, we we do family
vacations and and uh his daughter is like a, you know, a niece to us and my my daughter is like his sister. So, uh, that just makes it more fun and more special to work together. And our other assistants, um, Greg O'Brien, who was a new volunteer, Brian Martinez, our JV
coach, Ricardo Caras, who does a wonderful job with the freshman. I get a lot of help. Mr. Zakella as the athletic director, was great helping us. And Mr. Guerrero, I mean, you're not going to find a principal in New Jersey that loves sports more than Mr. Guerrero. He
was wonderful. Mr. Moore, they came to all the important games. Um, I I said this before in at our dinner and it it's true. I was a little sad at the end of the season. That's not a normal reaction to winning a state championship and being nationally ranked, but it was kind
of the recognition that it's like, oh, um, the likelihood of having a season like this again with a group of players like this again is like next to zero. And if you've done it as long as I have, you know, when you have a special group and that's what made it so much fun. Um,
every day practice was fun. Every day the bus rides were fun, the team parties, and it's something that all of us will be able to uh remember forever. And the one thing I always emphasize with these guys is when you win championships, they're they're forever.
And when you come back and you're 52 like me, you can see the banners and you can tell your kids, I was on that team. And they probably won't believe you because my daughter doesn't believe a lot of the things that I say I did. Um, but you'll always have that together
which is wonderful. So, thank you. >> Thank you, coach. And I just have to share this quick story about Coach Neans. Uh, back uh uh many years ago, we were passed and I'm not sure if you still have the ASAP program, the athletic student achievement program for athletes. And where many of the coaches
were fearful that we were going to implement this new program because it might have had their students maybe or athletes have to sit while they went to after school for support. Uh coach Neans first coached right up at bat asking if if what he could do to help and to improve the program. So coach that that
goes to show why you have the success that you do and thank you for all your years in the district. Okay, I'm going to ask the council president to come up to help hand out these certificates. I'm going to ask the mayor to read off uh the certificate.
Here you go, Mayor. >> Yeah. So, we're gonna ask the athletes when your name is called if you could grab your certificate and then we're going to just walk right back around the podium. The parents will take a picture at the end. >> Sorry, mayor. >> Okay, that's okay. >> All right. So, 2025 was a historic
record-breaking season for the West Orange High School boys soccer team. The team won the boys soccer NJSIA Group Four State Championship for the first time since 2013, defeating North Brunswick 5 to zero in a final game.
Stats this season were the highest in program history, 100 goals, 105 assists, and 114 saves. Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey named West Orange High School the number one public school in the state and United Soccer
Coaches named the team number eight in the nation. Honors were prolific for both the team and the individual players with awards from New Jersey.comdrawcc.com the suburban essics conference and jersey sports zone. Special recognition
goes to coach co coach Doug Neans named the 2025 United Soccer coaches large school and regional coach of the year. Congratulations senior coach Marcus Jackson. United soccer coaches named him
all region, all American and national player of the year. and senior captain Carl Hall with 26 assists led all of New Jersey, all of group four, all of the Super Essex Conference, and all seniors statewide.
Behalf of the mayor and our town council, we proudly recognize the 2025 boys soccer team. Through dedication, teamwork, and perseverance, you have energized your school and community, and your efforts have paid off in remarkable
ways. Congratulations to you. So, let's have senior captain Carl Hall, please. >> You want me to the next? Okay. Marcus Jackson out there, you know. Congratulations. Augustine Ariana,
>> Sebastian Candido, Aiden Acre, Nico Chio, Justin Perry, Sarah, Johnny Rabaza, Justin Amea, Darius Millington, Luke Brown, Dennis Beneggas,
Romeo Ailio, Maddox Prof, Danielle Vargas, Espina, Chase Wins, Deonte Suarez, Melvin Pala, >> Cormela Lewis, >> Julian Gomez, >> Jonathan Sandre,
Nick Himemenz, Joseph Castillo, Estaban Sheroga, Alex Deza, >> Ben Noad, >> Braden Parks, Justin Rodriguez, Kayen Pana,
Dylan what? >> Marcus Woods, you didn't hear his name. >> Oh, Marcus. Marcus, we said >> best for last. >> Council members, mayor, coaches, if you can stand in front here, and we'll get a picture. >> And one great hand. This is our 2025
West Orange High School boys state champion soccer team. Okay, everybody look this way. >> Hold the pose. >> Hey, how many players are going to go professional racer again? >> Has to
All right, hold because we have other people want to take pictures. Everybody particular question. >> Yeah. Bye. without I'm great. Good to see you. >> Right on time. Look at this. We got two
minutes to spare. >> Michelle, >> the old cheerleader Emmy Mountain High School cheerleader. I hope to watch it on TV though, so they should know what's going on. Maybe they'll be part of the communion.
>> How are you? Oh my god. Why is it so late here? Joyce everybody. Hopefully she'll go around. >> God forbid I label anything. All the lights are still alive. >> Okay, it's 7 o'clock. Let's go. We're
going to stay right on time. >> Waiting for two people. >> Uh where's >> You're missing two people. >> Okay. Where is Tammy? >> Hollywood starting.
>> Yeah, that's >> cute. Yeah, it was really cute. >> Thanks for having >> Are we ready? >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Oh, all right. We got >> I know.
on most cautious appointments. >> Uh, yes, we do need to do that. >> All right. You could do that now. You don't need to >> Oh, okay. Great. So, why don't we do that? >> Um, >> all right. So, you tell Joe you're back live. >> Okay, Joe.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> We have never had class. >> Here you go. >> Oh, there we go. Okay. All right. Um, we have to do some council consensus
appointments for a couple of different uh commissions. The first one is the economic development commission and Roz Moscowitz has been our council consensus appointment. >> We'll make a motion to appoint. >> Okay.
>> Is it possible um madame clerk that we just by acclamation do all of the nominations if there are no objections? Um I would prefer to do them one by one. I mean it's like it's quick. I mean who did the second? Who was the second?
>> Um I'd like nominate Janelle Jerome. We got economic development. >> I'm just going to do all together and then if there's any opposed um okay for the economic development commission Ros Mosquitz. All in favor. >> Any opposed? Okay. The motion carries. >> Okay. For the rent leveling board
Janelle Jerome. Is there >> I'd like to nominate Janelle Jerome. I'll second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. The motion carries. >> For the Older Adults Advisory Board, we have Almyra Pakora and Rachel Percy.
>> I I can nominate both of them. >> Okay. Second. >> Okay. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> The motion carries. >> And the Citizens Budget Advisory Board, Ron Charles. >> I'd like to nominate Ron. Second.
>> Okay. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay, the motion carries. Thank you. Now it's 7 o'clock. >> Now it's okay. >> Madam clerk. >> Okay, >> let's get started. >> 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. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> here. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> present. >> Councilman Kovia, >> present. >> Council President Scarpa, >> present. Mayor McCartney. Will everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance?
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The council is now in their public
meetings. >> He's coming. >> Yeah. >> CJ buildings. >> Yeah. Mr. Samaro is in the building. He'll be here shortly. >> Okay. Should we wait or should we let Mr. Plesi go ahead? >> You can go ahead. >> Okay. Mr. Plesi, go ahead. Thank you.
>> Uh, thank you. Uh, I'm not as good-look as Mr. Plesi. I'm Joe Fagan. >> Mr. Fagen. >> Actually, Mr. Plesi won't be here tonight. >> Yeah. But I have some announcements for him. Thank you, Council President. Uh, I'd like to start tonight with uh
remembering uh uh Governor Cody, who passed away uh last week. Um he was a um pillar of our community and certainly uh uh he lived here in West Orange uh for a brief period and was one of four governors who actually came from West
Orange. So, I'd like to just remember him this evening. should do a moment of silence. We should do a moment of silence for the governor. >> Yeah, >> council president. >> Okay, let's all have a moment of silence. >> Thank you, council president. Um
kind of an odd set of circumstances, but tomorrow there is a special West Orange Township Council meeting here again in council chambers. Please note the time. It's at 4:00. Uh and it will be uh just like uh on Zoom and everything will be
normal except it will be 4:00. Um Mayor's McCartney's open office hours coming up Thursday, February 12th, 2026, 6:00 to 8. No appointment necessary. and uh council connection open office hours. All the dates have been established uh
and it's on our website. The next date up is February 29th, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. And also uh no appointment is necessary. Uh this weekend, the West Orange Classic Film Festival returns to AMC Dining Theater at the Essex Green Town Center.
Uh Sundays at 2 PM. The dates are there. Uh movies and ticket information is at westarts.org. or um so please please check it out and please support this program. Um also posted on our website is
immigration resources uh in light of national events. This uh this l this uh landing page will take uh you to many helpful links that might be helpful to some of our residents. Um, West Orange 3rd annual Ramadan
Crescent Moonlighting is scheduled for February 7th, 4 to 6 right here at town hall. The rain date is the next day, February 8th. Um, also at the uh, Arts Council through Sunday, January 25th is the photo
gallery expedition expedition that Mayor McCartney mentioned earlier. Um, West Orange Christmas tree collection has begun January 12th. There are restrictions. Uh please check the website for what they might be. Uh basically no no plastic wraps, no
decorations, no tinsel other decorations. Um Valentine bash coming up. Uh West Orange Mayor's program for Uniquely Gifted February 11th, Toby Cat Center. This information is posted on our social media.
Uh the mobile MVC is coming to West Orange February 23rd to 27th. Now that's not when you uh can sign up. The appointments will open at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 2nd. That date will soon be upon us. Uh, and I have to say
from prior experiences that they fill up very quickly. So, please be aware of when they're coming, February 23rd to 27th. But go on our website, west.org, uh, to uh on February 2nd to book your
appointment. They open at 11:00 a.m. Also coming up on uh February 8th at Super Bowl Sunday is uh West Orange is proud to the renaming of the recreation maintenance garage for Joseph A. Pelos uh recreation and parks building. He had
over 40 years of service and he passed away in uh 2024 on Super Bowl Sunday which was his uh his favorite day. So, even though this is happening on Super Bowl Sunday at 1 PM, um there's plenty of time to come to this and still get
home time of the game, which is usually in the early evening. Uh Revolution New Jersey traveling display at the West Orange Public Library ends on February 22nd, 10 Circle. However, there is a permanent Revolutionary 250 display in the lobby
that I set up. And just today I added a genuine uh original 1776 lead ball used in flint log musketss. Now uh it's interesting to note that um lead musket balls were actually manufactured by women of West Orange here and uh I will
present that fact if you don't already know it in an upcoming program. Also uh congratulations to Councilwoman Williams on appointment from New Jersey Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma. uh she was notified uh uh with this letter uh last week. Um and
congratulations, Councilwoman Williams. I'll sure I'm sure that you will uh bring a lot of good um suggestions and um uh necessary things uh of your experience to this program. And uh Mr. Plesi contacted me earlier. He is still
feeling under the weather. So he will not be here tonight. So, he asked me to mention the uh the job fair at the Turtleback Zoo uh on um when is the date? Actually, there's several dates. So, she you should check uh the Essis
County or Turtleback Zoo website. They're looking to fill seasonal positions. Uh I have to tell you, I am tempted for the train driver. That sounds like fun. >> I could I could see that you on that. >> Yeah, it probably would be fun for about
a week. Um and also uh remind everyone this information is also Essis County uh but the um deer management program is going on through uh February 10th and the signs are usually posted on Northfield Avenue and um uh but you
should check out the information just to be aware of it. So uh thank you council president. That concludes my report for this evening. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Fagan. Um, okay. So, now is the time for
public comment. Uh, I'd like to ask anyone who would like to make public comment to state their name, their address, and you have five minutes to speak. I don't think I need to say anything more than please, when you come
up, be respectful, and treat everyone here the way you would like to be treated. um in that there's not too many people here but in the future I thought it would be nice that those who want to make public comment come and sit towards the front so that we know about how many people we have. If you are making public
comment could you just raise your hand? Okay, very good. So why don't we start with Mr. Blandon since he's already standing. Good evening everyone. John Blandon, Forest Hill Road.
Uh, first and foremost, congratulations to you, Councilwoman Williams, on your appointment of the governor. Uh, much deserved and hopefully you can really uh advocate uh for the stigmas that is put
on mental health. So, thank you and again uh congratulations. Just real quickly, I just came to the mic. on regards. I watched you guys on the last council meeting a debate about public comments and I just want to say to you
um like tonight I wish I could have stayed at home and have been on Zoom. Took me like 20 minutes to had my car warmed up and it was still cold and forgot my gloves and just from walking from the handicap space into town hall
being warm, my hands are still cold. Um, and so I just wanted to say to you guys, please consider the constituents, especially the seniors and chairperson uh Scarper, you have advocated venomatly in the past to make sure that uh seniors
and others could be here to make public comment and not wait all night. And major corporations don't meet as long as you guys do about the board and their shareholders. And so a lot of the stuff that you guys sit and talk about and argument and argue about wastes a lot of
time. And so if you did eliminate and really look at a meeting of how much you argue about things that to me are minute in the scope of what goes on in this town for your constituents, uh you wouldn't even have to bring up having public comments uh at the end. So, I'm
pleading on behalf of especially all the seniors of this town when they have issues, but most importantly all the residents of this town that you allow us and do not depress our votes by having public comments at the end of the meeting when you guys are in here. Um,
you you meet over 11:00 and in fairness to our employees, then they have to walk out at a certain time after working all day. And so, we feel the same way. We're drained like you guys are at the end of the day that have full-time jobs. So please, I'm pleading with each one of
you um to make certain um as uh council person Kakoviaak has often said that we get an opportunity to express our first amendment rights because we elected each of you. And it's not about what you want, it's about what we want and how we want our town to run, especially at
public meetings and public comments. Thank you so much for your considerations. Blessings to all of you. I'll be watching you at home because I'm going to get out of this cold and get back to my home. Thank you. >> Stay warm.
>> Okay, >> Mr. Scott. >> Good evening. Uh, let me first say congratulations to you, Councilwoman Scarbor, on becoming chair. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you, Brent Draper, Scott Nestro Road. Um, um, council
chairperson, uh, and good evening to all of you. Uh, I'm here tonight to announce that the West Orange African Heritage Organization will hold its annual Black History Month program at the West Orange Public Library on Sunday, February 22nd.
And I'm very pleased to announce that Congresswoman Lmonica McGyver will be our keynote speaker. And I hope that all I'm here to invite the mayor as well as every member of the council and indeed the town. There's plenty of parking at the library. Uh so I hope that uh as
many people will show up as possible because this will be a wonderful event. We're going to have two other speakers. I'll be back at another time to talk about them uh because I'm still sorting them out. Uh, but the congresswoman will be our keynote speaker and I wanted to announce that and remind everyone that
the library is a co-sponsor of this event. We're also going to have I'm very happy to announce um performances by our award-winning West Orange marching marching team and some of the uh vocalists in our award-winning uh at our award-winning schools. And I'll be
calling uh listing uh those people as well at a future meeting and in a um release. But uh that is the announcement. That's all I wanted to mention was that we are having the African-American the West Orange African Heritage Organization is holding our annual Black History Month
program co-sponsored by the West Orange Public Library at the West Orange Public Library on Sunday at 1 p.m. uh Sunday, February 22nd. Thank you. >> Thank you,
Mr. Daui. Good evening, Todd Deovi. Bess, uh, Bernette Terrace, forgot where I live for a moment there. Um, good evening. Happy new year, everybody. Congratulations, Council Person Scarpa, Council President.
>> Um, I'd like to address a few items that were on tonight's agenda. First was the uh contract for DPW. Um first comment I've got is the contract violated both state statute and West
Orange's own municipal code. Contract could not should not extend beyond the current mayor's term. It includes a 10.5% 457b contribution. Um the SBA uh board recommended
negotiating reductions or the complete elimination of this benefit as it was originally intended to replace lifetime healthc care coverage. Such benefits have become rare in municipal government and it's almost unheard of in the private sector. Also, there's absolutely no reason this benefit should be vested
immediately. Um my pension and 401k company matching funds in the private sector were not vested for five years. Um, and that was back in 1988. So, it's been a long time. Further, it allows the employee to seek outside
part-time employment. This is already an issue with a current employee who this administration refuses to address, and this is exactly what is causing this township's debt to skyrocket. I have heard it said that West Orange cannot attract good people to work here without
offering outsized benefits, which doesn't make any sense to me. Uh we've been told the same thing by the previous mayor for years that no businesses or developers want to be here when asked why developers were offered pilots and that also is inaccurate.
Uh it's this administr this mayor's administration's policies that cause businesses not to move to West Orange. Developers will come here because of normal economic motivations. Money can be made here, and lots of it, but without 30-year pilots.
How many more taxpayers have to come before this body to complain about how their real estate taxes are making it impossible to retire in place? We heard from many residents during last year's budget discussions on that subject. Yet, it seems as though those complaints and the recommendations of SABAB are being
ignored by the current mayor and her administration. There's no need for this town to insist on paying maximum salaries and offering excessive benefits when the current employment picture nationwide is less than healthy. And while we're at it, where's the 26
budget? Essex County released theirs last week. Will it be April before we see our our budget? Uh, I also want to address the planned improvements for Ozac. It would be helpful for us to know a little bit more about the project such as how many rows
of seating, total number of seats that are being constructed because that looks like it's the biggest element of the project. Um and uh depending on how many seats are built, the rest of uh what is
contemplated seems to involve lighting pathways and and curbing. Um but yet the contract's a million dollars. It's also over the the the grant amount. Um why
not limit it to the grant amount? um especially with fiscal considerations as they are in this town. Um next is the subject of the appointment of special counsel. It suggests that this is being done due to the existence of a conflict
of interest with the township attorney, Mr. Rivera. If that is the case, then it makes absolutely no sense to have Mr. Rivera contractually supervise this spe uh special counsel position, which is what is contemplated.
Um, if it's a conflict for him to serve as counsel on the matter, it sure is a conflict for him to supervise whoever is brought in to replace him. Um, as for investigating a sitting council person, this is ludicrous. I've heard the rationale for this effort is
that a complaint was made and therefore the township has a legal obligation to investigate. If that's the case, why isn't the township investigating the town employee who is working a second job on a township owned property during hours where he's being paid to work for the township? Because it's a personnel
matter. So is this issue with the council person. It's hypocritical and frankly illegal for this township to selectively choose what matter it investigates and what it doesn't for the purposes of political retribution. And that is exactly what this is. This
council is supposed to be a checks and balance for the mayor's administration. I ask that you take your role seriously and demand transparency and equity in how this township is managed because at the present time and for decades, this town has not been managed with
transparency and equity in mind. Thank you for that. >> Thank you, Mr. Devobi. Um, Miss Sylvester Good evening. Claire Sylvestri, 20 Grand View Avenue. Well, here we go again. For the third time in 5 years, a new council
president has made limiting the public's ability to speak at council meetings one of her first priorities. During the new business portion of the January 6th meeting at 11:40m without any notice on the agenda,
Council President Scarpa urged her council colleagues to begin the process of amending our township ordinance to restrict public comment at the start of the meeting to agenda items only and relegate public comment on any other issue to the end of the council's
regular business. In 2021 and 2023, a new council president proposed amending the ordinance to limit public comment to three minutes. And in both instances, significant public outcry, convinced the council majority not to follow through.
Now, I would argue Council President Scarpel's Scarpa's proposal, however well-intentioned, is even more restrictive to residents ability to address their elected officials and publicly express their questions and concerns.
It wasn't that long ago the council moved public comment to the first item on the agenda to make it as easy as possible for residents to come and speak on the record. But this council president's proposal would put residents at a huge disadvantage because there's
no set time when the council finishes its agenda business. It could be 8:30, 10:30, even midnight. In fact, at the last meeting, the council left nearly all its agenda business undone until they came out of an executive session at
11:30 p.m. Agenda business was not completed until a few minutes before midnight. Earlier that evening, eight residents spoke for 40 minutes of public comment, only one of them on an agenda item, and the council response was about 30 minutes.
If the proposed change was in effect, those individuals would have had to wait until close to 11 p.m. to speak. And would the meeting have been much shorter? As I did when this issue first came up in 2021, I went back and reviewed the regularly scheduled council meetings
last year. And just as in 2021 and 23, I found the real reason council meetings ran so long was not public comment, but the time council members spent responding to public comment, as well as the time taken to discuss and debate
agenda items, plus a lot of executive sessions that were closed to public view. Some facts. All but one of the 20 regularly scheduled meetings ended well after 11 p.m. However, comments from the public lasted less than an hour in fully
half of those meetings. At the five council meetings that ran close to seven hours, public comment only once went more than an hour and a half, and that was at February 25th meeting when public comment was bifurcated, and 21 people
waited until after 11 p.m. to speak about non-aggenda issues. Overall, public comment was only about 10 to 20% of the total length of most meetings. I came to all of the regularly scheduled meetings in 2025 and there was a lot of
public engagement with strong opinions on legislation having to do with leaf blowers, single-use public restrooms, neighborhood capital improvement projects, as well as concerns about parking, trees, and West Essex Highlands. But my takeaway from the
council meetings was that excessive amounts of time were spent debating various agenda items. And I don't recall an instance where one member's arguments changed the mind of any of their colleagues on anything of substance. And too often questions were repeatedly
asked of administration officials with the same answers being given over and over again. So, if the council president desires to reduce the length of council meetings, I suggest she proposes an amendment to restrict the time council members can
respond to public comment and the time individual pieces of legislation can be debated before a vote is called. And perhaps if residents see the council demonstrating prudence in its public discourse, they too might follow suit
and limit the number of minutes they choose to speak. Please don't make it harder for our neighbors to come and express their personal concerns about safety and the quality of life issues that are so important to them. I believe this
proposed change shows a lack of respect toward the people you were elected to serve. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Sylvestri. Would anyone else I'm sorry I don't know your name. Sir, come on up.
>> Airfon Kawaja Ridgeway Avenue. >> I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? >> Yeah. Airfon Kawaja, Ridgeway Avenue. >> Thank you. >> So, number on November 12 last year, I spoke to her on the matter of the immigrant trust act. And while I was here, a resident Sheila Leawitz rose to speak about the need for an
anti-semitism task force. Now, I took strong exception to Miss Lewitz's remarks at the time, but didn't have the chance to respond. Admittedly, three months have passed since then, but I think a response is in order, however belated and on the record. Now, as you
know, West Orange passed a resolution condemning anti-semitism, resolution 3924, back in January 2024. Miss Lewitz claims the super surge of anti-semitism has arisen since then which demands the creation of this anti-semitism task
force. To make the case for the task force, Miss Lewitz aduces four cases ranging from December 2023 to November 2025. Now four cases in two years is not a super surge and two of these cases do
not strike me as anti-Semitic. So let me focus on these two. The first of them was the protest at Congregation Orura here in West Orange, November 13, 2024. Miss Leawitz presents this case as though it was obvious that the protest
was anti-Semitic in motivation, obvious that blame for the violence was the protesters and obvious that the DOJ's having initiated a suit against the protesters disposed of the entire matter. None of that is true. Every significant fact about this case is
contested by every party to it, including federal versus local law enforcement. A case this contested cannot establish a claim as contested as the one she intends. So, the case is not evidence of rising anti-semitism.
It is worth adding that Miss Lecoitz omits what was being protested, not Jewish worship per se, but the use of a house of worship to promote settlement by force in a conquered land where settlement is an explicit military
policy of an army of occupation. In other words, the protesters accusation was that Orurro was promoting a militarized version of Jim Crow. Miss Lewitz may not agree with this, but she can't omit it and then claim to be offering an impartial version of events.
Now, the second case was the protest at Suburban Tour Center in Livingston November 11, 2025. Miss Lewitz points out that a protest took place there and that six people were arrested. She then insinuates that the protest was anti-Semitic, the arreste particularly
so. Well, to state the obvious, an arrest is not proof of guilt, and the elements of the offenses alleged here have absolutely nothing to do with anti-semitism. So, no clear evidence of anti-semitism was presented in this case either. Now, once again, Miss Lecoitz
neglects to mention why the protesters were protesting. They were protesting the tourist centers having invited Yov Galant, the former Israeli Minister of Defense, to speak there. Mr. Galant is currently under an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against
humanity. Offenses that are far more serious than any alleged against the protesters. This makes him a suspected mass murderer and fugitive from justice, not merely an innocent man of the cloth. It is not anti-Semitic to protest the
presence of such a person anywhere, whether at a house of worship or anywhere else. Now, what I find objectionable here is not simply Miss Lecoitz's indiscriminate way of making accusations, but the council's apparent acquiescence in them. The council seems
to have taken Miss Lecoitz's claims at face value and seems committed to her proposal. Now, I have previously criticized this council for failing to deal with issues that fall within its scope of responsibility, but this seems to me a
matter that falls well outside of it. If we're talking about the commission of crimes, that's a matter for the relevant law enforcement agency, not a municipal task force. If we're talking about violations of federal civil rights law, that's a matter for the Department of Justice, not a municipal task force.
Miss Lefgo's task force seems designed to police who says what and who protests what. That is not a legitimate object of public policy. My view is that the task force should be shut down before it gets
set up which is what I would like to ask you to do. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is anybody else Mr. comment. Uh Lawrence Cohen, uh 20 Lincoln Avenue. Just like to speak to this person who
just spoke. Um I think he's made a very big lie and he's almost uh turning the uh right turning what's right and and and everything is upside down what he says. I mean, there was a Jewish person attacked in this town, uh,
nearly choked to death, and there's a legal case, and Department of Justice is now following up on it, and he's trying to say there's no big anti-semitism problem here. Now, what he said is just ridiculous. uh Jewish people feel uncomfortable here in the United States also in the in
Europe because of the rise of anti-semitism and that's why the police department here is focused on protecting the temples now and they probably won't make the same mistake of not being on the side letting a protester be on the side of the temple and I mean it's so ridiculous what this guy said and that
there should be um this anti-semitism task force it should be fine anyhow um also I would like to say if there is an investigation of a um a council member here and it's a political uh
investigation really we don't need that here. That's just uh you're actually going to make a martyr of that uh council person if you do something that's not a proper investigation and and that council person if they want to run for mayor probably will become the new mayor. And I just want to say I did
uh last year uh campaigned very vigorously for Joyce Ruden and she's an amazing person, amazing candidate and we had great ground game for campaigning. We could do the the same thing again. We don't need money, we just have people. And um also she did great job cutting
budget. I mean she just dug and dug and dug and went for the budget. Now, I I gave a letter to the town council um just a couple of days ago about an ordinance rule that we haven't on on uh about uh the the zoning board and the
planning board's election saying that the chairman and vice chairman should be um changed every year that you can't run again. And so that would mean that the chairman of both zoning and planning board are now in violation of this rule
and are they are not legitimate. So I was thinking about it and I said why did they have this this rule this ordinance and it doesn't make sense. We're about the only uh uh township that has it. So it it doesn't make sense.
There are rules saying that every four years uh people change because each appointee on these boards are are political appointees either from the council or the mayor and that's the way people go uh when they when they leave
completely or there's a yearly vote and you can be voted out. So I think that's the fairest way. I think this this is a political maybe a retribution type thing that was done years ago. I hope you guys do away with this uh with this. It looks like a targeted uh ordinance, you know,
just to make sure that somebody who is not liked as uh as a as a as a land board uh as um zoning board or or planning board uh chairman, it goes away. I don't think that's I think that's almost anti-democratic to have a
law saying and it takes a lot of time to get up to speed to run one of these committees. These are quasi jujiso uh appointments. Uh you're acting like a judge. You have to understand the law. You have to understand all the different intricacies of these uh it's like a it's
like a law case. It takes couple years to get up to speed. So why kick somebody out if they're going to be there? Um uh just one year. They're almost like just feeling their their their way around. And then they say, "Okay, so long you can't you can't you have to
leave. you you're not allowed to run again. It doesn't make sense. I think that uh and uh I was just uncomfortable in the election there. Uh there was I I like the the um the chairman of uh the the board, the zoning board. I've come
to like him and I like the person was running against him and I felt so uncomfortable when they were saying that that one is not legitimate, one is not. I just hope both of these people get along and I want all these all committees in in West Orange for people to get along and not to fight so much
amongst each other because we'll get less done and we have a lot of pressure from real estate development this year and we we all have to have our wits about us and we all have to uh focus on on on on what is before us. So that's it. Thanks so much.
>> Thank you Mr. Cohen. Rachel Klene. Uh >> Rachel Klein and Hell Drive. I wasn't going to speak, but um Mr. Coney gave me the courage. Um you know, everything you heard about the two incidents at Orur and Ferventator, you know, was a lie. I
mean, the person the pe one of the people arrested at Sper brought a knife. I guess maybe I live in an alternate universe, but I would think if you're bringing a knife to something, you are probably not exactly there to do good things. But I got up to speak because this rhetoric is exactly why a woman
attacked my children's school last year with a knife. She stabbed the security guard multiple times before he was stopped. 50% of my children's school, our West Orange residents, even though it happens to be a school outside of West Orange, were proudly Jewish. And we
I I really I don't care if we have an anti-semitism task force. I would just like us to be left alone. Stop talking about us. Stop bringing us up. Get over your geopolitical issues and just move on. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Klein.
>> Is there anyone else who'd like to make public comment? Okay. Seeing none, we'll close public comment. and Councilwoman Williams, take it away. >> Good evening, West Orange. Thank you so much, Council President, for the
opportunity to respond to public comment. Thank you all for coming out this evening again in the frigid cold. Um, just to make sure your voices are heard. Um, so, uh, Mr. Deobe, I I want to just address some
of your concerns, um, with the DPW contract. Um just understand that all of the recommendations from the uh budget review committee have been heard and um noted by myself as well as my colleagues
but I can speak on their behalf. Um again questions aspect details I'm certain that the administration can respond to that um and give you the details uh that you're asking and I am completely in agreement with not uh
restricting public comment to agenda items only in the first part of the meeting. U Miss Sylvestri, thank you for that. Um, I do remember you being very strongly opposed um, in 2023 when I was
council president and that um, change happened and I I must say I applaud your diligence in going back um, to review those meetings because I refused to do that. Um, I realized that those conversations did indeed occur. some of
my colleagues that were uh on the deis now were vehemently opposed to those changes as well. Um so you know I do respect the fact that we have limited and restricted public comment um only to
being in person and I do not support um having any resident have to wait to be able to express their concerns. I also agree with you um that this is the opportunity for them to come
and express their concerns to us and to be heard on the record. Um I agree that we do have hours where you can come and voice any issues or concerns with your elected council members, but that is not
the official record for the township. And I I believe that that is why people come. They sit in this audience is because they do want to be heard. They're concerned about what is happening in our community. Um so thank
you again for voicing that. Um I I did not agree with that and I still do not. Thank you. Um Mr. Cohen. Um certainly uh thank you for your comments. Miss Klein, thank you for your comments. Um Ivan, I think you have been
emailing us back and forth um about the immigrant immigrant trust act. Um that is something that certainly if there is a consensus here to move that forward um we can discuss that under new business. I did respond and say that it did not
come up. Um but certainly you bringing it again to the forefront is something that can be discussed. Um but I am in agreement um that we do have to um learn how to live together. Um I attended yesterday the MLK um services at Liberty
Middle School um which is hosted by the human relations commission um which I had the privilege and pleasure of chairing for four years um before I became uh council woman. And it is important um that we learn in this community, one of the most diverse uh
townships in Essex County and and perhaps even in the state of New Jersey, um that we learn how to live together. We're not going to always agree. We serve different religions. Um we serve different gods. We look different. The color of our skin is different. Um we
have different beliefs. Um but here in this community, we have to learn how um to live harmoniously. We're not going to always agree. Um, but we do have to be respectful. I have no issue with any of the comments that were made. Um, I just wanted to be clear, um, that what is
going along along or happening outside of West Orange, we can't ignore that it does impact the residents that live here. I'm clear on that. Um, but I do want us to be mindful um, that this is our community. This is the place we call
home. Um, I've heard from my Jewish neighbors, I've heard from my Latinex neighbors that they're afraid to go outside. They're afraid to walk their dog. They're afraid to to walk their children to the bus stop for several reasons, whether it be ICE, um, whether
it be criticism other communities because of a tire that they may have on. It's just not acceptable in our community. It's not a place that I want to call home. So, I don't know what the solution is. is I don't know how we get past and beyond our differences outside of just asking each of us to respect
those differences and to just do our best um to to respect each other as human beings. We all bleed bread no matter what the color of our skin is. And and this couldn't be a more prudent time for us to understand the teachings
of Dr. king and understand that we should not be judged by the color of our skin, the the religions that we practice, but the content of our character. Um, thank you uh Mr. Blandon for always bringing us uh good information and Mr.
Scott for u making us aware of the uh West Orange African Heritage Organization's upcoming Black History Month. But I also want to remind you that the West Orange African Heritage Organization will also be having um a
event at South Valley Barbecue. First Friday is coming up again soon. Is that correct? Is that this Friday or next Friday? May nay. So say yeah next Friday night >> we
can make that um quarterly monthly but so >> I saw an advertisement about it so if if there's um anyone interested in in participating with the West Orange African Heritage Organization um they have been doing some game nights so it's
big whiz and spades um that they were advertising and promoting um again Thank you. C. Well, one more thing, just wanted to update the public. I keep saying that I think it's important for the public to know some of the different things that we do in
between the council meetings. Um, so in addition to the MLK day event, um, attended the West Orange High School football awards banquet at the High. Um, met with the Mountaintop coaches to watch their teeny TTS um, ice hockey um,
practice. um attended the sports media uh opening reception at the West Orange Art Center Gallery and attended the uh West Orange Chamber of Commerce um board meeting. um also hosted um at town hall
um Jack and Jill of America a legislative workshop and we had the mayor that came and greeted them and gave them a little bit uh of information on being mayoral and some of the mayoral responsibilities and then we had some other directors um from the
administration come in as well. It's always wonderful to see our young leaders um come in and just be in awe um and just to take a picture with the mayor and to be able to sit behind the deis and uh uh beat the gavl the this
the the look on their faces um is just incredible. Um it's it's just what makes being an elected official all all the fun is when you can work with these little people and and see the joy on their face that you bring to them. Thank you, council. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Ruden.
>> Hi. Uh, good evening, West Orange. Um, want to thank everybody for coming out. Um, Todd, I couldn't agree with you more. Every single comment that you made. Um, the contracts are clearly out of
um sync with our municipal code and with our state code. And um I believe that that for these reasons these contracts are being pulled. Um our our state code clearly says that each department head
shall serve during the term of the office of the mayor appointing him or her and until the appointment and qualification of the successor. Our municipal code says the exact same thing. So why contracts are were
presented to us that went beyond that is really um inexplicable. I don't know why these contracts are are coming to us in that in that way in ways that violate the state and local law. I also agree that, you know, we had the benefit this year
for the first time of having the um SBA, also known as our our citizens budget advisory board, um give us guidance in terms of what we should be doing with new employees and in terms of uh 457bs
and not granting extreme amounts of 10% uh on 457 which in fact ends up to be pensionable. So we end up paying for it both um in the in the state and and locally. We
also pay for these um enhanced pensions when we give so much to new employees. Um I also agree there should be a period of vestment in this town. You should not get a pension immediately right out
right out of out of the gate. Um, and all of these bad practices are what has caused our own municipal debt to skyrocket and has put us in in in such um terrible debt where we're paying 12
and a half% of our budget just to pay down debt. Um, as far as your good question about where is our 26 budget, I'll leave that to our CFO, Mr. Datiniac. I know he's he was working on it earlier in the year and maybe at
another point um you can address that Mr. Diniac when we will be seeing our 26 budget so that we can get rolling on that. Um let's see um uh Claire um in terms of limiting
speaking. I was not here when that discussion took place and I do have some some thoughts on that and I I guess we will be discussing that later in the evening and I'll make my opinion clear on on that at that point. Um Mr. Kawaja,
um you have reached out to us um in regard to the immigration trust act and um I fully support that we should be making a statement. I spoke about this last time that the mayor had originally said that she would support that and I
would I would support that too. However, um I do find it a bit concerning that a individual who is not a member of the Jewish community is telling me as a member of the Jewish community what anti-semitism is and what it looks like.
We have had incidents in West Orange that are clearly under any definition anti-semitic and whether or not a task force is established that is a discussion to be
had. But I I do think that when you have people screaming in front of synagogues for the eraser of the Jewish people and for globalizing acts of violence against the Jewish people that we have a problem
and we've had this problem in West Orange. So, um I think this is it's worthy of a discussion, but it's also worthy of a discussion to have a immigration trust act um signed and a resolution stated in this town that we
support all of our immigrants. I'm terrified um for our our immigrant communities. Um um Larry, thank you so much for speaking out and all of your kind words. Um, as far as um some of the R book uh rules
that are on the book that we are not following, you pointed out the one about the zoning chair. We do have many many ordinances on the book that we're not following. In this particular case, I think it's a good ordinance and I think that we should be following it. I think
that there should be term limits for unelected positions and I do understand it that that the chairs are elected within a small group but but they are not elected by the people at large and
for two individuals to be chairing boards for more than 20 years. There's something wrong with that. we need to bring other people up to speed so that other people can um can lead these boards. So,
so I do agree that there is a problem that our code is not being followed but I think that that code should be followed rather than changed. Um and I think I think that I've spoken to everything that for for what has come
out tonight. Thank you so much. I really appreciate everybody coming out and speaking. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Koviac. >> Thank you, Council President. This council is not going to have any significant positive impact on the issue
of anti-semitism and I believe the council should only focus on issues that we can affect to make West Orange an even better place to live. As I said at the last meeting, given this council and its limited responsibilities, we should love and
respect each other, everyone, and focus on what unites us, which are the more numerous, weighty, and important aspects of our lives, and not on our differences. Certainly, none that this council has no realistic chance of
making a positive impact. I thought it was terribly and most unfortunate that anyone's name has come up in relation to the special counsel. The resolution names no person and makes clear this issue should be confidential.
Mr. Debi again well spoken and you beat me to the punch tonight. Where is the budget? I thought that we had a consensus up here uh between the council and the administration that we were going to
handle the budget this year much much differently than we did last year. So I am going to be asking about this budget every council meeting until we get it. And I would like to hear in as much detail what our timeline is, when we're
going to get it, and when we can start moving on it. At the last meeting, I opposed any change to our public comment that burdens our residents without the council proving that it will have the discipline to limit our own behavior.
And I agree with Councilwoman uh Ruden that any ordinances that we have that are not legally permitted or allowed or ordinances that we're not going to enforce or are unable to enforce need to be assessed in an appropriate manner. and if and if they
are found wanting, they need to be ended. Council President, thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Castelino. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, so in order to keep my comment short, which was the request of the public, um,
basically just going to add that, you know, I'll comment about OPAC when we talk about the resolution. Um but it is one of our properties and uh we have to maintain our properties. So I look forward to that discussion when we have
it. Uh regards to the budget, you know, it's it's January and I rather see administration make sure they have everything they need before they give us a higher percentage budget and then the council sits here
and looks at it for months. So if you know Mr. I'm sure Mr. Datiniac is more than capable of speaking you know why it's a little bit delayed but again it's it's January last week >> January 17th is the old date it's technically due to you guys 227.
>> Yeah >> as per the the local finance we we will we will get it to you as soon as possible working on public works right now. We don't have a director working on public works. We're working on uh the IT budgets. Those are the the final two
pieces and then plugging the revenue in. So >> yeah, he's on the committee to hire staff. So again, and then of course right before a meeting there's a thousand questions that everyone has to answer, which is great, but again that's take time out of their day and we have to be respectful for the job that our
our staff is is providing for us. Um so I I don't mind waiting. I'd rather have it, you know, as low as you could get it before you give it to us so we're not sitting here for months. Um, in regards
to the zoning, uh, legal opinion, um, you know, we we don't have, you know, we could ask for a legal opinion. We had passed an ordinance which I didn't vote for. We don't oversee the zoning board. They're their own entity. And so maybe that's Mr. Samrara has to to look at
that. Maybe we need to in order to stay in code we need to that's one of those ordinances that we need to to amend. So um again the chair they vote on their own chair. Um I believe I don't know why people well I you know it's a tough job
to be the chair and to take all that time. So that could be one of the reasons why people don't always uh want to volunteer their time. Um but again that's that's their that's they're their own entity. were our own entity. So, um, and I can let our attorney if he wants
to make a comment about that in a little bit in regards to public comment. Um, listen, we can be a lot shorter. We could go three minutes. Most of you, I'm looking at the time. Some of you talk for five minutes um to make statements,
which is great. I'm here all night. I'll stay all night. I My colleagues want to, you know, we want to tighten it up. I'm all for that, too. Like I said, the school board does agenda items first and public comment later. It works well over there for 20 years now. I don't
understand why it's such an issue here at the council. Uh but again, that's a conversation I'm looking to have. Um in regards, I attended the human relations commission as well yesterday. Did a lovely job, a great job. I I Rachel, you're one of the commissioners. If any
other commissions are here tonight, outstanding job. Um, you know, folks, we got to we got to keep getting past this. I know there's a lot of passion. There's a lot of inks nationally and that passes down to here in our community. Um, but
I'm, you know, as you know, I'm not in support of passing uh resolutions. I I feel we have much to do with redevelopment, affordable housing crisis and whatnot. And and once we go there again, we c, you know, if we care about
our our residents, I've always shown that I cared. I But we we we're going to clog up public agenda and it's we're just not going to get any work done. So that's I'm sorry. That's where I I'm not going to be supportive. Um I show that I
care by attending events and being there and and and donating my time and all that I do for this community. And I I hope folks appreciate it. Um because I really do care and I really am sorry for all the angst that's out there for
people in today's world because it's it's tough. It's really tough. But we have to focus on getting our business done. We have the redevelopment. We have the movie studio properties. We talk about de our debt. Well, we we needed we need to get that deal done and and move
on so we could we could continue to pay down the debt and focus on these very pertinent issues that you know is our direct council business. So, I just hope we could find that focus and I do appreciate everybody for coming down
tonight and and being so passionate and and showing that you care. I also keep in touch with our um our uh deputy mayor who heads our Hispanic Foundation with all these, you know, scary situations that you hear. But, you know, folks,
another thing and and I'm going to pass this along to the community. Um just don't, you know, social media is is the the toughest the toughest, you know, situation that we're dealing with today. So, be careful what you post because there are um there are business owners
in our town that are, you know, that that are Hispanic owners. And, you know, I got to tell you, talking to the our deputy mayor, you know, they're losing business because people are fearful to come to their their places of business because of some bo posts that they found out that weren't even true. So, be
careful when when you post on there that you're mindful um because we don't want to see people lose business in our community because they're afraid to go out and and patronize uh the local business for fear of being picked up. So, it's it's got to be scary times for many people, but people, you know, we
got to be thoughtful. I know I know people are being thoughtful by thinking they're they're they're doing a service, but it it's really talking to the deputy mayor. Um it some of these situations um created more uh problems than solving problems. Um and thank you to everybody
that's been you know providing food at the at the uh at the food uh pantry and whatnot for our our residents. I'm just going to end with again thank you to everybody and um I neglected to say when we had the kids uh the our student press
and student athletes here earlier uh I neglected to also thank our mountaintop tough feeder program because you know working with our township and our feeder program and the recreation department. It it helps to um all all the success at the high school level with our feeder
programs here in the township. And last but not least, Joe, thank you for mentioning and having a few uh moments of silence for Governor Cody. Um he, you know, longest serving member of of New Jersey legislature right here in our in our town and always always uh when you
called him for uh something for this township. uh whether I was on the board of it or here or once I got to the council, he was always there, you know, funding mental health um securing uh Metife deal that you know the Giants kept the Giants and Jets here in the
Garden State. Um but what his biggest passion of all was uh coaching right here and so many students and giving them opportunities um to play ball. So um my condolences go out to uh his family as well. Thank you, Council
President. Thank you. Okay, I'm going to start um by uh letting everyone know that I have been meeting having conversations with Mr. Simero about how we can streamline our meetings and have us work more
efficiently. Um he is an invaluable resource. I would like to see him here with us uh whenever possible and we agree that there needs to be a hard stop at 11:00. We cannot go on all evening
because we can't be making decisions on very important things uh when we're all tired. So the uh the only decision I've made is that I am going to uh have a hard stop at 11:00. we and any items
that are not completed will have to go to the next meeting. So, as you know, the last meeting we've moved up all of our directors and Mrs. Ms. uh our engineer, Mrs. uh Zbeth will be coming
first so that she can go home and get some sleep. She has I think 10 items tonight and she'll be first. If the administration has anything that is urgent, they can ask me to move it up and I certainly will. Um, in terms of
the uh decisions about public comment, um, I have not made any unilateral decisions. I have only open them up for discussion with my council colleagues based upon the conversations I've had with Mr. Samero. I have reached out to
the seniors and some others and uh no one especially me does not want to disenfranchise our residents. I was one of the people who fought ferociously to keep the public comment to five minutes. So what I the idea I like and we're
going to talk about it later on. I haven't made any unilateral decisions, but I would like to omit the conference agenda um unless we're actually honoring students. And I would like to start our meetings at 6:30. And my idea is to have
the public comment on non-ag agenda items first. I would like to ask people to be concise and to be brief. And I am going to lead by example and try to keep my comments to five minutes as well. And I think the way I'm going to do that is
to address subjects rather than each and every person who gets up and speak. Um I'll leave it to my council colleagues to figure out how they want to do that to be concise, but um that's how I'm going to start. Uh and we'll talk about
that later on. Um the best way to move forward. Uh we do need to focus on West Orange issues. We have so many important issues coming up. We have our affordable housing debacle to deal with. We have our matrix studio development. We have
Rock Spring golf course that's coming up. So, it's very important that we stick to West Orange issues and refrain from getting involved with global and social issues. Uh but you know, we'll see how everybody feels about that. But that's my thinking.
Um Mr. Boby, I um agree you I agree. Uh you've got some you're usually right on the money on most things. We are waiting for our legal team to weigh on in on the legality of those contracts, which is probably why they were pulled off the
agenda. Um I would like to ask Mr. Samero uh give him an action item to make sure that we have that information as soon as possible. and perhaps to look into our zoning ordinance as well and
give us some feedback as to whether that needs to be changed or what I've heard from watching zoning board meetings and listening to them is that that ordinance is out of compliance with uh multiple land use law. So >> I I I could address
>> You want to do it at this point? >> Do it right now. Sure. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um so it's come to my attention uh that uh an attorney by the name of uh Jonathan Drill uh had addressed uh this issue uh for the board uh
four or five years ago. Uh Mr. Drill uh is uh the co-author of the horn book for the MLUL. Uh he is uh one of the uh more renowned land use attorneys in the state. he had concluded uh that the
provision that was limiting or preventing the reappoint of the chairperson uh was not an enforceable provision and contrary to the MLUL. Uh that was my inclination originally as well. Well, I know that I spoke to a couple council members about this and I
had suspected that that was the case and uh before I actually picked up the uh uh the research tools to start looking at this, I was handed his opinion uh which I uh agreed upon uh or agreed with. Uh
one of the cases that was uh cited by uh Mr. drill in his memo uh was a case where uh the board uh implemented uh an additional public notice uh in addition
to whatever public notices were required uh by the MLUL uh and that was challenged and that was invalidated and and I think that his analysis is uh on on board and it's an
appropriate analysis. Uh I have begun uh to uh analyze uh the code uh to revise the ordinance to address those uh issues. Uh and while we were at it, I figured I put an
associate on this to make sure that your filing fees and your escrow fees were comparable with other townships because it's been my experience that when you start to look at code sections, you start to see that maybe your fees are a little out of date. So, if they're if they're out of whack, I'm going to suggest adjustments to that.
>> Uh, another issue uh that was brought to my attention uh by some members of the council uh was making sure that the uh hourly rates that are payable via escaro for the board attorneys uh and ex uh other board professionals are consistent
with what their contracts are, which would be a good thing. That's right. >> Uh and we're also revising that. So, I I anticipate uh I'm hoping for the next council meeting that I'll have an ordinance uh ready for submission for for your consideration to address all of those issues.
>> Great. Thank you so much. >> My pleasure. >> Um and uh Mr. Smeldo, I just wanted to say before I let you and Mr. Zatiniac um address any items that I want to thank you for your prompt response on your action item, which was about the permits
or the alphabet streets. I appreciate you're getting back to me. so quickly and Mr. Fonino too who sent me an email the next day about the rodent problem clarifying what's happened before I even got a chance to ask him. So I want to thank both of you for that. Um I know
we're looking for a timeline on that and I think you said there was some education that had to be done for the system. So if you would just follow up with that if you can. So um I I sent the u excuse me I apologize. So I sent the
request to the chief um and Chief U has had his staff respond and that they are actually working on the implementation and and um and u training of of the of the the program itself and they're doing it this week. Um and all the people are
going to be implementing it. There are some um timelines that they have to in order to upload a lot of our different um ordinances and things of that nature is going to be in there. Um there is going to be some capital that has to be spent to buy some equipment to help out with the officers, but they're hoping to have it up and running um and sometime
shortly. They didn't give me a definitive date. They said once they get the training done and everything else that they're going they're going to reply back to me. The chief is here. I'm sure he's he's paying attention and and he will respond because he always does. >> Maybe just give us a ballpark, you know. >> I I I can't because they didn't give me a ballpark. So I I I I they said they
would get back to me when they were completed. That that was the last message I had. So um and I was kind of tied up last week. So So I I forgive me for not getting that answer for you. So right now. So um >> so when we have an answer, I will report back to you whether it be here or I'll
send you an email. >> Okay. We just want to know what to say to our friends on the alphabet streets. You know, they're very anxious and I assured them that they did not have to come. 20 people again because we are on it and we are serious about you know getting this done. >> So it's um funny it's not just the
alphabet streets anymore. We were we today at our director's meeting we were discussing other streets that have concerns as well without getting into the names of the streets and and we passed ordinances last year that were beneficial to some and now others are not happy with the the ordinance the way they were. So, I spoke with director
Kavalo this afternoon about that and and these streets in in general, we um we may actually wind up going back out to do another survey, which is time um um you know timesensitive and it takes a while. I will tell you that the we sent
out the um the surveys to the alphabet streets on parking and how many um how many parking spaces some houses would would like um and how many people responded. Um we the deadline was last Friday. Most of our responses came back via email, but we only received
approximately 50% of the surveys that were sent out. Um one of the properties actually asked for 12 permits. >> That's a problem. Well, no one's entitled to 12. >> Well, that's what they asked for. We didn't say we'd give it to them, but we asked them what they were looking for, what they needed, right? And you know,
without and I don't even know which property it was. I can't I won't answer if I did but I don't know what the property is but I know that somebody one of the properties now I don't know if that was a six family or a three family whatever it was but they asked for 12 permits. >> So there's a lot of discussion what we have that we have to have you know I
have the chief I have Sergeant Reese here that we're going to be able to answer some of the questions that were asked today and they could probably opine on it better but we're working on it and we haven't forgotten about it. So is while it's and I said this at I think at the last meeting I was at while it
may seem like we're not doing anything. We are working behind the scenes like we've never had on this project. It's it is a priority of the mayor. It's a priority of our our directors and our staff and we want to and it's a priority of our our community. So we we're taking it serious and I think I think the proof
is that we have been moving forward with all these meetings and and and everything and seeking information. So we need to gather, we need to put together, we got to do it right. We just can't do it fast. Just fast is not right. >> Exactly. I think it's that outreach to the community and to the people on the
streets that's the most important. And I'm going to end with my letter from my friends on Kent's Terrace. I got a lot of calls about this today. And I assured them that the whole street did not have to come down here, that I would just read their letter so everyone would know how they feel. Um, and here's the
letter. A few neighbors on Ken's Terrace have been here for 20 years. We are owners and pay our taxes. There has never been overnight parking on this street or any of the streets in the Pleasantale section of West Orange. We
also have zone parking with permits on our cars which allow us to park on the street during the day. Since the onset of COVID 5 years ago, the police do not ticket cars on the street at night, nor do they enforce permit parking during
the day. A number of the cars on the street, both day and night, have greatly increased. These cars do not move off the street when it snows, which makes it impossible to properly clear the street. Permits were issued years ago due to
customers from Wells Fargo Banking on Kent's Terrace. We also had New York commuters parking on the street when they took the bus into the city. Our street is narrow, so when the bank is busy, cars are parked on both sides of the street, making it difficult and
dangerous to travel up and down the street. It is also difficult to pull out of our driveways when cars are parked on both sides of the street. We respectfully request that current parking laws be enforced. We are a dead-end street with too many cars
speeding up and down. This is an accident waiting to happen. So, I would just like to say as a matter of policy and procedure moving forward that when we want to make these changes on a street that we go out and we survey all of the residents.
>> Well, we do have for you tonight, you know, for consideration on first reading Ken's terrorist. So, um >> so that you know that could be discussion for your you and your colleagues. Um I'm not sure I can ask the director if there was a um survey but just understand that surveys when I
when I spoke to director Kabalo about a survey um and in particular this one street we were just mentioning is that it's it is time consuming and but I've also told her that I like data so we come to a mutual understanding that we need to you know we need to to make
these decisions and again I that's why I go back to my statement sometimes just because we're we don't want to do things fast if we want to do things right. We want to do it correctly. So, um, and that and if we're going to do that with the you have to give us the latitude of when we when we do these surveys, it may
take us a little while such as in this last case. >> I agree. It's better to get it right and hear the voices of all residents on the street. And with that, I'll just end my public comment. Is there anything else the administration wants to address? >> Um, yeah. First and foremost, um, we,
you know, I think we addressed most of the the comments that were here today in the public comment. And if if I haven't, I I I apologize. Um but first and foremost, I think one of the things we have to Oh, >> okay. You want to go wait till he's finished or did you want? >> Yeah, I can wait. I can wait. I just
want to >> I'll get you next to you. >> Thank you. >> So, the first thing I want to mention is that um we're losing another director um February 1st. So, um Director Kio after I think it's I think he was here during
the uh Fred Flintstone age. Um He would appreciate that. I'm sure he's listening. Um, he and Dino started together. >> And um, >> dad up in the for >> Yeah. Yeah. Billy. Yeah. I'm getting back at you, buddy. Um, so, but all
serious is, you know, I'm I'm very happy to have worked with him as a colleague um, and as a co-orker and as a friend. Um, he'll be sorely missed. his uh his his demeanor, his attitude, his well-being for the community, his you know, when you're in charge of
recreation, his job really was fun >> and he made it fun. So, um I just want to thank him. So, good luck, Billy, to whatever you're going to do in the future. Um and I I hope that, you know, you can retire some of those shorts and um and I and I wish you the best of
luck to you and your family in the best health. So, congratulations on on on a long time served here with the town of Weston. Thank you. That's first. Um second, uh as Mr. Diniac suggested or was was brought up, um as far as the budget, we have been working on the budget. We started working on the budget
the third week of of December or I'm sorry, first week of December. Um we started working with all the different departments. Um and we will be um as as he mentioned, we will be getting it ready. We do realize we have a deadline of in February, which we're going by those deadlines. Um, I made that comment
to you before that, you know, we are working on it. So, we will get it to the council. We we do not want it to be held up just like you don't and um that that's our responsibility and that's my responsibility and Mr. Diniac's responsibility. So, we realize that there's pressure. We will make sure that we get this done and present it to you.
Um, other than that, I think um I think I'm spoke about um most of the um um what was mentioned. I did want to mention also about West Orange High. Um I think that's cool. Um, you know, I think it's great to be a part of a team. You know, I've been part of a team for
me, many different teams in my career. Um, so it was cool to see them here and I I I do remember back in 2007 when we had the two Gatorade players of the year from West Orange. One from Satan Hall, one from West Orange High School. So, it is cool. So, um, so congratulations to all of them. So, other than that, I
think that's it for >> Okay. Well, I think we're all going to miss Mr. Kio. What a loss. Yeah. >> Should we cry now or later? No, we we'll cry less. >> All right. Uh, Councilman Dovia. >> Yes, Council President. Thank you. I, as
you know, I very seldom talk about uh, council liaison announcements and I realized that we sort of blown past them and not sure whether we were even planning on having them today, but the 20th annual West Orange Film Festival
>> is scheduled to kick off this Sunday. So I wondered if if you and my colleagues could give me 30 or 45 seconds time you need >> just to thank you >> and anybody else who wants to talk. >> Right. It starts uh this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the AMC theater. Tickets are
$13. You can order them ahead of time from the warts.org website. This year's theme is celebrating iconic voices in the world of film, including the recently passed legends Robert Redford and Diane Keaton.
Uh it's a co-production, the the festival is a co-production of the Arts Council and the uh West Orange Recreation Department. Uh the first film is Cinema Paradiso. It's a Academy Award-winning uh film uh and also
includes commentary uh in-person commentary by uh the historian, filmmaker, artist, and educator uh Gerard Amselum. So, uh perhaps one it's one of the most beloved uh foreign language films of all time and uh just
encourage everyone to come out for it. Again, it's this Sunday. You can buy tickets at the door. You can also buy them ahead of time, $13. And uh you can see a lot more about the film festival uh from the warts.org
website. Thank you, Council President. >> Council me. >> Yeah, I just as of the board of ed liaison um and uh I I just the chief had just uh stepped out. I I just want to thank our police department, our chief
and all the staff. Um, last week at West Orange High School, I know the mayor put out a statement, the school district put out a statement where there was a situation that and and of course like timing is everything in the middle of of a a situation on a security lockdown.
Um, you know, Verizon goes out so you had a lot of hysterical parents, people who couldn't get in touch with our schools and that's where I I get a little frustrated with social media. a student put out something on social media that uh was AI related and
again so but the response of our uh departments under the guidance of our chief that day was above and beyond and I I just have to thank all them for keeping us safe and and our school officials for the great job they did our
our principal as well and their deans and staff. I'm just thank thanking you, Chief. You stepped out for a second, but what a just a a commendable job that your staff had uh uh had done last week with our high school. Just a very very
tough situation and uh I I just have to commend all of you. I thought we had another meeting uh before Mr. Kio retired and to sneak that in, but uh I just could I working with Mr. Kio for many years uh on feeder programs. uh the
work that he's done with our not only with the recreation department but working with the school district uh feeder and programs I mentioned earlier very important uh to him at the recreation department to build up and always be supportive of our of our high
school and uh again big shared services we talk about share services in the community there's none bigger than us sharing the fields uh with the school district and the amount of time and scheduling that goes in place there. So, um you I thought I had one more meeting
to pair some other notes, but just a great career on all that uh Mr. Kio has done for our uh township and he will be uh surely missed. Thank you, Council President. >> Okay. Anybody else have anything?
>> Uh Mr. Kio started April 15th, 1993. >> Wow. Wow. Council President, uh can I speak? Sure. Because the consent agenda is next. Yes. >> Right. >> Mhm. >> Um I've had uh certain communication with a
with some council people regarding uh resolution 2626 and I I believe that there might be uh a desire uh to uh replace uh Ramon Rivero with myself
>> in order to receive uh the report. >> Yes. Uh if uh there was an inclination to do a motion, >> we could still leave it on the consent agenda. We could just have a motion now, have it seconded, and then a vote. >> Okay. >> If they replace the name,
>> then obviously that resolution will be changed >> and then the resolution would be remain on the consent agenda in its altered form. >> Okay. >> So, I just wanted to bring that information uh to the council. I also want to caution the council that this is a personnel matter. We can't have any
discussion of substance on it. >> But I think that we're all familiar with the nature of that resolution. Uh and uh if there was any discussion about that motion, it should be limited to exactly what I said, not anything else. >> Okay. I would make that motion to have you super I would feel much more
comfortable with you taking that on. Second. >> Okay. Leold. >> Yeah. Uh >> that was a motion. >> Yes. I'd like to make the motion to have you supervise that. Okay, hold on. >> I'll second. >> Oh,
>> I did. Michelle already did count. That's okay. Um, and this is for resolution 26 to revise paragraph >> three to indicate that uh the uh that I
will be the attorney uh designated uh to review the uh the work. >> All right. Okay. And and the report. Um, and just for clarity of record, because I know that a member of the public raised the issue, I didn't have a direct
conflict of interest for the for my recusal other than the fact that I represent the township and theoretically at any point in time can be called to represent any employee, any official. uh and as a result I would never do the
investigation into the township employees. It would always be someone from the outside. >> Now the reason why we had to designate an attorney from the outside be a resolution is because our conflict council that was already selected
>> was involved in an earlier investigation that involved some of the witnesses that would be involved there. Hence, >> got it. >> Want to keep everything at arms length without, you know, with its own investigation. >> Good. So, I just want to explain that so everyone's comfortable that there's no
conflict with me supervising. >> Okay. Great. Thank you so much for that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I think it's six actually. >> Five six. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Not three council paragraph six.
>> Okay. I'm going to take a roll call vote on that. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Recused. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm refused. >> Oh, okay. Sorry about that. Um,
Councilwoman Williams. >> Councilman Kobiaak. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. >> Excuse me. >> There's two amendments. I'm sorry. Excuse me. >> Number three. >> Agenda six. Okay. Yeah. But I will
>> just spots. >> Yeah, >> that's why I didn't see numbers >> front page here. >> Yes. Okay. Sorry about that. That's all right. >> Okay.
>> Question. Does the compensation stay the same even though he makes the different amendment? Do we need to amend that? >> The the compensation was only designated for the investigating attorney.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Uh and and to the extent that I'm missing something, I stipulate that I'll be at my regular alley rate. >> Thank you. No problem. four nothing.
All right. Well, he's been >> okay. Revised all of it. So, >> do we take a vote on it now as amended >> or no? Would you just consent? >> No, it it'll be in the >> consent. It'll be on consent. >> Do the normal consent agenda. You give
people the opportunity to take things off the consent agenda. If someone wants to take it off, then it's off. If not, as amended, it remains on. >> Okay. >> Agenda. Yes. >> All right. Consent agenda. Approval of minutes of previous meeting. Public meeting January 6th, 2026.
>> Consent. >> Consent. >> Report of township officers. None. Reading of petitions and communications and bids. South Valley Road, Union Street, Nassau Street, and Wheatland Avenue Improvement Project.
>> Uh bill list. None. Resolutions. Are any resolutions being pulled this evening? No. Yes. We'll pull I would like to pull for dis some for discussion. >> Well, we don't pull for discussion. You can just discuss and then
>> Well, I may be pulling. Okay. I want a table. >> No, >> you you pull it off the consent agenda. >> Pull it in a table. >> I'm pulling it off the consent agenda. >> Yeah. In a table. She said she only wanted to discuss. That's why I pull it off the consent agenda. Okay.
>> And we can have separate votes on that. >> Okay. Which one? Um 2026. Okay. 22 26. >> Is 2426 still happening? >> No, there won't. No, there's no reset
for session 426 27 26 28 26 six and um 3026. >> I think I think you >> I was I was going to Yes.
>> Does anybody else have anything? >> No. >> Um and I think Oh, just just for resolutions. Okay. >> Yeah. Oh, I have >> Do you have anything? >> Yeah, you should be pull 30 26. Yes. Yeah. 28 2
>> Okay, we have everything. We'll let Mrs. We'll start with Mrs. Cavara. >> Um, she's >> Are we pulling these items and then can we go again and consent agenda? >> So, I move to to accept the consent
agenda. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? The consent agenda is implemented. >> Uh the first resolution that was pulled is 2026 resolution endorsing the request
by the township to Essex County to install 40 to 50 delineators on Gregory Avenue, Lawrence Avenue to Walker Road to improve pedestrian and student safety. >> Okay. I know that this is Miss Caribella's
um resolution. I just want to I I just want to make sure this um measure to improve pedestrian safety by putting up delineators is just an interim measure to slow traffic as the
community awaits proper sidewalks. Is that correct? >> Yes, it is. If you recall, um during the meeting with the residents, they requested delineators. Uh these ones are actually going to be temporary delineators, meaning that they could be removable. I tried to put the permanent
ones that you drill through the pavement, but they were not approved by the county. So, this will be temporary ones. >> If they're not drilled in, how do how do we protect them dayto-day? >> Well, somebody's going to have to be responsible for putting them out and taking them back.
>> And who will that be? Well, that's something that we'll have to discuss with DPW if they can't do it, which I doubt or see how the residents maybe in the area might be willing to do that. >> And was it the county that refused to allow the drilling?
>> Yes, they actually suggested other ones um that have an specific weight. So, in that way, it's it's it's harder for like if they get hit to be, you know, flying off, >> right? Is there any way to go back and and make another argument because this is another thing that our DPW will have
to be in charge of I assume to get out there early in the morning to put up the delineators and to take them back and >> well delineators will stay there. >> We're not going to take them back. They're going to stay there. If one get knocked down, then somebody's going to have to be responsible for calling the
office or picking them up. And if they get damaged, then to let my office know so that we could repurchase them. Okay. And how is this being paid for? >> Grant. >> This is all grant money. >> No.
>> No, we are paying for this. >> Yes. >> Okay. And what is the cost for this? >> About $3,800. >> And how much would it have been to have them installed? >> If they are to be the regular ones, those are about $8,000 to $8,500.
And like I said, the county says no. I actually submitted my application with those and it got rejected. And then I had a discussion with one of the uh engineers and he suggested putting these
temporary ones that have some weight at the base so that way you know they stay in place >> and they said no to that. >> These are the temporary ones. These are the ones that they agreed to put in. Right. But these are not the weighted ones. >> These are ones that have weight at the base.
>> They do. Okay. All right. Um, so I know that that you have been proactive in terms of getting radar signs um at Walker and and Lawrence. Is that correct? >> Yes. And we did a survey asking the residents if they would allow us to
install those flashing beacons like you know we discussed during the meeting with the residents and the residents actually that we sent them to uh they all say no with the exception of one person who was at the meeting. They all said no. >> They all said no. Yeah. They don't want it. They don't want it in front of their
property. I mean, you got to understand something, too. This flashing beacons and LED speed rider signs, they are they're not your typical regular sign. They're they're large and
some people don't want them. >> Okay. And what about the request to put these radar signs in front of Gregory School? I believe there's some in there already. These are not for in front of the Gregory School. These were for past the Gregor's uh intersection of Gregory
Avenue and Walker, >> right? But the residents have also asked for for these to be right in front of Gregory. Is that is that >> I believe there's already some in there already. >> Okay. >> And those were installed actually by the county. >> We had the meeting with them two years ago.
>> Okay. So, um thank you for moving this forward as far as you could. I know that yesterday there was an incident um on South Valley where a sixth grader was hit. Um and um you know I think it's
just urgent that we move as fast as we as we possibly can on getting these safety measures in place, the delineators and then the sidewalks. Can you tell us any idea of when the sidewalks will actually be in place? We're talking about the sidewalks along
Gregory Avenue from let's say Lawrence Avenue to Walker Road. >> Yes. >> Well, that's what the SC Ralph to School grant. Okay. That being said, I will say it's the same way that a TAP grant is, meaning it's federal funds, but
administered by NJ DOT. Um, it's going to be a long time. Give it at least four years before we start hitting the ground. That's typically how it goes. figure is about a year between DOT and the township. We have a they have a process called the elig eligibility
process. We actually meet with people from DOT. The council actually has to pass a manual um for construction. We have to answer a bunch of forms. We actually have a interview with them. Okay. After that,
it will be about six to seven months before I get a letter saying that the eligibility process was approved. Then after that, I have to select a professional. That depends how long is it going to take. The DOT is the one who's has a pool of professionals ready for us to select. Typically, it's about
four. If they don't have a list ready to go, I have to wait until DOT does their process. And when they do it, then I select a consultant. Then after that I have to apply for what is called design assistance program. So in that way we don't have to pay.
>> We get approved for that. That's another process. We go back and forth multiple times between DOT and the consultant until they approve the proposal. Then after that you will see the resolution that you have in here for design assistance.
>> Then after that it will come that process takes about a year. Then after that will come final design phase that is also about a year and then comes the construction administration assistant for which I also going to have to ask DOT to
>> long process. So I just want to understand why does a resolution come before the council to request the installation of the 40 to 50 delineators without us knowing how much this is going to cost. It was my understanding during the meeting with the residents
that this was a go-ahad and that you wanted us indeed to proceed with this. So what I did first was not only to get the road opening permit ready with the county and make sure that they actually agree with that. Once they agree and
obviously they're not going to pay for it, I proceeded to go ahead and submit the application. I haven't purchased them yet. So, and then just just another question then I'll I'll stop on this one, but who exactly turned you down
from being able to put a a more permanent delineator >> on the on the um streets. I'm not going to disclose the name of the person, but let's just say that the information came from above,
the person in charge of the department. >> Councilman Minoviac, did you have something you >> Yeah, I I did have a question. Thank you. >> So, I can answer that. I'm the one who said not to put the delineators out there that aren't permanent. And the
reason being is that they're unsafe. We're going to put people in harm's way. We don't have the staff to to do it every day. And it was suggested that our residents do it, which our GIF would have a field day with us because if one of our residents get hit and run over where it doesn't set it properly or
cause an accident, it is a safety issue. So, we're not going to put anything if we're going to do something, we're going to do it by by putting it um installing it. And that's why we went through this process by putting out um something that somebody who's not trained or not
authorized by the municipality to set go out there and set it up or sets up too too narrow and then we get accidents. It's a narrow road. It was a consensus amongst those of the professionals sitting there that we were not going to do it. So I made the decision to say let's go ahead and let's look at getting
prices for something that's more permanent so that we can say yes, we did our due diligence on it. But it's just it's just unsafe to have a resident and expect a resident to get out there and we just quite frankly don't have the staff to do it every single day, especially at 7:00. I mean, I I deal
with the police chief dealing with just trying to get crossing guards sometimes. So that was that was the main reason. It was the main reason we're we if we're going to do the safety, we have to make take all factors in it. So >> um >> so, >> Council President,
>> yeah, I'm finish. I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing. I was asking why aren't the delineators permanent so that people are not putting them out every day. >> Yeah. No, that's then that's the reason why. But if if that was then I misconrue the question. We're not we want if we
want to put them out, we want them in permanent, >> right? And that's why I'm asking why wasn't it approved that the delineators be permanent? >> Oh, the county of Well, the county the county is the county road. County road. That's that's a they they make a decision and whoever did that county
said no. >> Yeah. It's a county road. They but they did say to us if you want to do it, you can do it. >> If you want to install them, >> we want to install. It's at our cost and and it's our and it's going to cost us to put put these delineators in.
>> Isn't this at our cost anyway? Yes, it is. But >> this ones, when I say meaning not permanent, meaning that I'm not drilling a hole into the pavement, those were the ones that got denied. >> Yeah. >> Right. These ones, they have weight.
They will be out there >> indefinitely for as long as, you know, I will say we'll have to remove them when the snowplow comes though. >> Yeah. The issue we have too is that when our when the snow plows come down, which is not our road, um they they come down and they wrecked them, you know, and and
unfortunately this year we've had I don't know how many snow storms now. So, we're we're kind of really getting walloped. Um and um so that that that's another concern because we don't know how much this is going to cost us. So, >> Council Castle, >> well, did Council Kovak have a question
first? >> Yeah. >> Yes, he did. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were you still >> Do I have the floor back now? I wish you did. >> Thank you. I I I thought this entire project was based on the idea that we would we
meaning the township would provide cash flow to do all this work and then get reimbursed sometime later by a federal grant. Is that is that correct? >> This is which which project is this? Which ones are you talking?
that we were just talking about Gregory school. >> Two things in here. There is one that is the resolution for the county for the delineators and then there's another resolution I believe for the safe router school 2024.
>> Yeah, we're I'm talking about 2026. I thought that's what we were talking about. >> Yeah, that one we're paying for. That one we're paying for. >> Okay. We're paying for something that is part of a of a larger project that we're supposed to be reimbursed 100%.
>> This well the the lineers were never part of the larger project. This is basically what I will call >> a bandaid >> a temporary solution to address the residents while you know we design the project >> which is going to be like I said four
years from now before we even hit the ground. Here, here's the question I'm asking. This project here and the project over on Pleasant Valley Way are described here as being totally reimburseable to the township. The township's going to
provide the cash flow and get the money back somewhere down the line. Now, I I guess perhaps I misread the resolution or didn't understand it. I thought this was going to be totally reimbursed. >> The only part that is going to be
reimbured is going to be And I think you mixed up both of when you put it on your questions because if I'm not mistaken, the uh the safe roster school is the one that is going to be 100% reimbured, which is
for Gregory Avenue and Lowel Avenue. >> And and so we're not actually talking about Gregory Avenue now. or we talking about a separate resolution related to that, but it has to be separate because apparently you're going to have to pay for it. >> Yes. >> It's two separate things.
>> Okay. But it's it's part of the same project, but it's not going to be reimbursed >> like the rest of the project. >> It's not really part of the same project because the lineators were never part of the grant. >> Okay. >> That's what I'm trying to say. >> But but it may be related to the same area.
>> It is related to the same area. Yes, I >> agree. Project. That's a separate area. So this is this is all designed to help the students who are moving to and from the schools. That's >> I I could explain when you
>> but just just a second please. If we are if we the township is being expected to pay $3,800 or whatever the cost is going to be, I think the schools should share part of that cost. they're the primary
beneficiaries of this or certainly uh uh a substantial beneficiary of this and yet uh there's no talk in here of of us sharing the cost with with the schools. So I'm I'm uh very concerned about that.
But anyway, uh and and part of my concern is that >> we are we've already mentioned the the debt management plan. We meaning the township is going to have a much more restrictive
access to capital and cash flow going forward because of that plan. And I want to make sure we're getting off on the same foot on on a on the right foot and are not just continuing to throw money out uh on a situation like this where the schools are benefiting just as much
as we are. So that that's why I raised the issue. So that's all counc. >> All right. Thank you. So let me try to put a little clarity on again what had occurred. So before I guess Councilman Koviaak and Councilwoman Ruden got to
the council, the mayor and had set up um meetings with myself and and staff and we had um when working with the Gregory parents for the past couple years on all these initiatives and uh and and our
director had just expressed how you know how slow the whole process is which is was frustrating for the parents. There was a meeting at Gregory's school when we you that was the meeting that you walked into and that was probably like
the third meeting about these items that the parents had wanted uh that were advocating for. And because of the process taking so long and the county officials being present at these meetings and explaining what they could were willing to do and not willing to
do, the consensus was to put on these band-aids to, you know, for safety reasons obviously. So I hear you, Councilman. Yes. Is it technically for the school's children, but they're there are residents. So these are children whether they're go to Gregory School or
not. It's it's it's pedestrian safety. um which we, you know, we always talk about and advocate for up here at the council. So, I think it's definitely well worth the $3,800. Um I wish the grant would come faster so
we could get these sidewalks done. Um there's other items and I think at some point in time maybe the director not tonight because you know she's not prepared for it because we I didn't ask her but maybe um you know we have a list
of all those action items and what else is coming forward on that whole Gregory area. So for that Gregory Avenue um plan is basically to install sidewalk from Lawrence Avenue to Walker Road. We're
also going to have to install basically retaining walls because the topography doesn't help. >> Nope. >> There's also a missing link of sidewalk between Lawrence Avenue and Helen Avenue at the back of Lowell Avenue. >> Yes. So, the plan is basically to
complete those two blocks and replace the existing sidewalk that is in this repair from Helen Avenue to Walker Road on Lowell Avenue. And excuse me, director. Also going to Mountain Way, the hill that comes down to, wasn't there an issue there as well? Yes,
>> that the the rear of Lowel Avenue also has a what do I say a topographic issue because the properties drop. So, we will also need to build retaining walls, which is the reason why we decided to apply for this grant because we know it's going to be costly to be able to
install sidewalks on this limited stretches. Excuse me, put the crosswalk there. Correct. >> Crosswalks and the sidewalks. We also are planning on doing LED stop signs. >> Yes. >> At the various intersections and some speed feedback signs.
>> So there's various improvements. So I I hear your frustration. But again, we by the time we wait for this grant to put these sidewalks in, it I you know, I I I you know, I encourage all of you to to support this resolution uh because it
will it will enhance the pedestrian safety for for all residents, not just the students. >> Can I just ask has the um school have the board of ed ever gotten involved in g in splitting the cost of this kind of thing with us before? >> So, this is road safety. I mean, in all
my years on the school board, even when uh the council when I my first project that you know, I got thrown right into the fire as a council woman coming off the board of ed was that um where mayor Paresi uh was uh we were involved, the township was involved in putting the bus
loop uh in front of Gregory School. That was very controversial at at the time and worked out to be very safe um and sound and we worked with the school district. So it depend it depends on the project. We talk about shared services is part of a shared service. Like I said
we we're on the we're on the high school fields 24/7 in their gyms and you know technically other towns have big recreation facilities. We do not. We utilize our schools. So again if you want to nickel and dime the school system for something that we should
actually be providing um I I always advocated not to be that town. Um but if that's the road you want to go down, then that could be a discussion had for another day. Um but in regards um to what the school did provide was the data
because the safe roots for school uh uh is dependent on a lot of data. Um we're really proud to get this grant because we've applied for what 10 years or so and didn't even receive this. say they're very hard to get these grants and uh the school system did a great job
providing the data because you have to get all the data with the walkers and that was their involvement in regards to helping us facilitate the grant. Uh it was very data driven on uh their end um again but it's I feel strongly it's our
responsibility. Council. >> Uh, Councilwoman, I uh, respect your position on this, but I think calling my position nickel and dimming is disrespectful, and I I I don't want to ever hear that again.
>> As I just explained, we are going to have restrictions on our cash flow for the next 11 or 12 years, and we're going to be borrowing roughly at half the rate that we've been borrowing over the last several years. that is going to become
an issue. It's already an issue. And for you to uh you know denigrate my approach, which is to say if the schools are going to be benefiting from this, we should have them contribute some of their cash flow to this. Uh I I I I just
don't like it. Anyway, I don't need >> I apologize for the adjectives. >> You don't need to apologize. I I have great respect for you. So I I just didn't think that was an appropriate thing to say. I'm I'm I'm just urging our council members to consider that we should ask we should talk to the schools and and see if we can talk to them about
sharing uh some of this cost burden which is not going to be reimbursed. Uh and it's clearly they're going to be benefiting from it. That's all. >> Well, as the board of ed leaison, if anybody wants me to make that ask, um
I'm more than willing to to have the conversation. I'm meeting with uh uh meeting with Mr. Ifer and or whoever they appoint this week uh next week in the next week or so. So I'm more than willing to have the conversation
but for tonight I would I I implore us to approve this tonight. >> Okay. Yes. >> So yes I would be in favor of of having discussions with the uh with a board of ed or the school district to to share
these services. >> Yeah. Um, I'd also like to bring up since since um our our police chief is here, it seems like one of the major problems that we have at this intersection is that there is a change of shift with the police. Exactly. At
time when the children are coming to school and this is exactly the time when we seem to need the police officers on the street. Is there some and also at at at um pickup in the afternoon with these
new um devices that are going to be on the street? Is there some way that we can get a police officer stationed to these different areas to provide enforcement for what is now going to be a new
situation and to have that long term. So your question is, would I be able to staff going forward permanently somebody at this intersection during our shift change? Yes. Well, a lot of times for school crossings that we cover on a daily basis, which usually are about 7
to 8 a day a day in the morning and about 7 to 8 in the afternoon, if I'm correct, not um that staffing requires me to hold over the midnight shift to cover this and hold over the afternoon shift, the day shift going off on
afternoons to do it in the afternoon. So, I'm already holding over officers to cover school crossings. To guarantee you that I could staff somebody there, no, I I couldn't do that on a daily basis because besides all of that going on, we have traffic accidents because it's it's
a rush hour and calls for service. I can't, you know, uh foresee what emergencies are going to be needed to be hel uh dealt with at that time. So, to answer your question, I would have to say no. I cannot guarantee that the shift change really doesn't come into
play because officers there's half of them that go off at 7:30 and half of them that go off at 6:30 in the morning. So there is always coverage on the street during shift change and frequently officers are called out of lineup to address emergency situations,
crossings and and the like. Could this be alleviated by having more crossing guards, some sort of enforcement body there during that time? >> Uh crossing guards are I would love to have more so that I wouldn't have to staff it with the traffic bureau on a
daily basis. Our community service officers cover them and officers that are in service have to cover them. I can't guarantee it because it varies from day to day. It varies on the time of year and it varies on the weather. Um we are short staff still uh in this on
school guards right now. We have some applications being processed. They come and go unfortunately frequently. >> Thank you. Can we move along the vote? >> I'd like to make a motion to approve 2026.
>> Second and Council President I'm sorry Councilwoman Castelino. >> I didn't get to be council president. Uh, >> yes. >> We will. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, Councilman Kakovia, >> no. >> Council President Scarpa,
>> yes. >> Okay, the motion carries. >> Um, let's get to the next one. Quick. >> Yeah. Council President, uh, we just spent 24 minutes on one resolution. >> Yeah, let's try to move it all.
Uh, resolution 2226, resolution authorizing a contract for the site improvements at Oscar Schindler Performing Arts Center to ZN Construction LLC in the amount not to exceed 1,16,526. Councilwoman Ruden, you pulled this.
>> Yes. Because the the contract award is above the $1 million. So, I wanted to call that to our attention. We we have >> just skipped one. >> I'm sorry. >> I recommend awarding the contract in the
amount of 1,16,526. That's what it that's what um is in our resolution. >> What's on my list? >> That's exactly what's on my list. I think >> yes. So it's over the amount of a
million. That's what I'm saying. >> 16,000. >> Yes. It is. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yes. So um since this is grant money, I would like to take a a more careful look at some of the expenditures. Some of the
things that I have noticed on this um are a $2,700 trash recepticle. I think that's a little bit high for a What kind of trash receptacle is this? There was another bidder who offered us
a trash trash recepticle for $800. Um there is a 6-foot decorative bench for 3250. Do we need this or is this something that we can do without and possibly get
a donation from a donor who wants to have a bench in somebody's name and we could eliminate that. Um the interpretive sign signage um there's such a great fluctuation between the bid
that we got in for 2500 another one that we did not choose to go with because I do understand that the overall price was higher. um is asking for this same service for $963. So what I would like to suggest there
also is something else here that there's a contract for allowance for work not specified. That's what I got used to hearing in the budget hearings when we that's called our cushion. Um I don't
think that we should be giving cushions for such large amounts. I'd like to see that this entire proposal stay within the $1 million grant and not exceed it. To answer your question, one, I cannot
change what is bid. That's a base bid. It's not like it's I got alternates in there or deletion items which would allow me to remove those items from the bid. I cannot also specify a contractor how they're going to bid their numbers. I could get a contractor that would bid
$50,000 on mobilization and that's the person that gets awarded the contract because his overall is lower. And I could have another contractor that would say that the mobilization is only $10,000. So how they bid their numbers and how
they I would say this make their profit is not what the bid is about because it's a base. It has to be either awarded as it is or rejected. Also, a contract allowance. I put a contract
allowance in every single one of the contracts because I don't know what is underneath the surface when they go do excavation for utilities. Okay? And there's a lot of utilities everywhere and they're buried. I need to make sure that I have enough money in there. There
is also an specification in the contract that is specifies in the contract allowance that the contractor will not get the money unless it's approved by the township engineer and at that time they will present to me what the issues are and what the extra cost is based on
that I might approve some of that contract allowance not all of it and they know because it's written in the contract that whatever that amount is is not given to them. >> Okay. So, so if if there is something in this proposal, you can't say, "Okay, we
no longer want that trash receptacle. We still have to purchase it." Even if it's $2,700 trash receptacle, either that or because there is an specification in the municipal contract law
>> that the contractor is entitled to what is in the bid. That's why we do an open bid. And the same thing is if I have let's say I have to add 50% more of the quantity the contractor then has the right to
negotiate with me more ask for more money. So yes pretty much we have to award what is in the contract. There are times that there are other contractors that I have worked in the past and I could work some of the numbers on some stuff that we might not need to cover for other stuff that might pop up that
weren't in the contract. >> Okay. So, my understanding of when we got this grant from Senator McCain, >> yes. >> Was to recreate the stage >> and the bathroom and the stairs. I'm not
really sure that is that what's happening with this with this grant because I see tree removals. >> Let me let me explain this to you. Okay. We bid this project on November 20th as a whole. Okay. It included all of that.
We got zero bids. That's a problem. So what I decided to do to make this more attractive, I would say to some contractors was to divide the bid. So we divided the bid into what is called the site improvements and we divided the bid
into structural improvements. Meaning the site improvements is what you have in front of you. basically includes the milling and paving of a portion of Boland Drive that the township owns and is not in good condition. The entire driveway that is there now the stadium seats that it was added is about 48
units by the way. Okay. Three rows that was also discussed with the OPAC. >> Mhm. They need that. >> They need that. There's also the uh area for the uh senior seating above. There is also um sight lighting. right now
there is none. And then for the structural we put everything that was with the building um the cameras, the lighting, the siding, the extension of the stage, the um stage flooring, all of that that is in the structural
bid. That bid is a I'm not going to say how much it came in, but it came in and I believe that's going to go under new business to be discussed with the council. because we're going to need more money for that.
>> Okay. >> And that for that for this bid, that's the number of biders that we had, three. And for the structural bid, we only received two bids. And that was the only way to actually make the project somewhat attractive for
somebody to bid it. So yes, the grant was a million dollars. $160,000 of that was utilized for professional services or soft cost. There was $840 left and the remainder is coming out of the OPAC accounts because there were already
accounts from previous budgets to pay for the remainder. Yes. Are you done council? >> Okay. So I So what's frustrating about this and even for um OPAC itself is that
now you know you hear a million-dollar grant and now we're fixing Bolan Drive which is a street that we own and it's it's getting partially paid from the grant and the driveway on the property. Again, we own a lot of property in town and so we're going to talk about uh
resolution 30 with the debt management plan in a little bit, but again, we we it we're responsible to fix our roadways. We're responsible to fix uh you know, structural or structural and uh improvements on our property that we
own. Um the seating is needed because you have volunteers dragging these seats out every event and dragging them back in and it's cumbersome and you know so the the grant was supposed to help you
know with with that. Um so there's also and I I'll because I know about it. Um but maybe I hope later when we have a discussion you're saying we're going to have discussion in pending matters. There's a huge donation as well that has
been given to the township. So I hope you could talk about that later. Are you planning to or it's not going to cover everything but it will help subsidize on our end. So um again that will be for a later uh discussion for the other
improvements but um yeah this is part of what we do here. So are these needs? I I believe they are. You know, um this stage will get done in the second part and uh Mr. Diniac, maybe you should talk
now what what we're getting donated and how much money we're going to need so they could have a decision on to move forward with this the way it is. >> I'd like to hear it. >> So we did receive a donation of $100,000. Yes. You know, I I it's probably not my place to make that
announcement. That's more for the mayor to to sort of >> make that announcement. We did receive $100,000 um for the OPAC. A very >> generous and general donation in that it's not uh pledged for anything specific such as you know performances
or infrastructure. It was just a very general $100,000 donation um to the facility. So that again it's going to require discussion. could potentially be a funding source to
get this project over the finish line. Um, but as our engineer said, you know, based on the bids that we've received, um, and what we've already spent against the grant, you know, we're going to need, if we want to complete it to the spec that we've put out there, um, we're
going to need to probably put together another $150,000 of taxpayer money um, to finish it. as it was specked out and as it was bid or as the bids came in, I should say.
>> Wait, I know you want to call the book, but let me explain because they again, >> this is important. >> This is important because every because I need the public and and my colleagues to wrap their heads around this. So, how much is the bowling drive piece of it? Because again, like in regards to getting the money for Ozac itself, it's
kind of, you know what I'm saying? like the street portion of it should be a separate uh transaction but she put it in to make this attractive to even get the other piece done. So it's kind of like the
project gets jiff from perspective because we're paying for the street improvement which really is our again it's we it's our responsibility to do our streets. >> So to mill and pave it is about $100,000. Okay. And that includes both. That
includes the road and the driveway. >> Yeah. Because you're doing that at the same time to get a discount on it. Yeah. >> So figure at least 70% of that cost is on the road. >> So So also we also discussed putting in pedestrian lights and pedestrian walkway
because it is our property. Go back to you we're talking about other safety issues with with the streets and everything else. While this is not a a very well traversed street with motor vehicles, motor vehicles, >> when there's an event there, there's a lot of cars and we need to we we want to put in safety measures to protect those
attending >> this this uh property. >> So So wait wait wait, council, because I want them to realize and I want the public to realize. So, uh, so you have $100,000 on on on roadway. >> Mhm. >> And, um,
>> the the other part is about two 250 minus 100 and $100,000 donation. So, so really as far as the project goes, it's well, it's 50,000 50,000 um towards the other part of the project,
which is again essential because it's dark up there. Have you been to any events up there yet? That's dark up there. >> It's very dark up there. >> Safety issue. >> Safety. So >> they they take out lantern lights so that they can see in
the evening when there is an event that goes into the night. >> Can I call the vote now, please? >> Yes. Now you can call the >> Wait a second. She decides that. >> Wait a minute. >> No, I can call the vote at any time. >> So
>> one more point. Did you again? Do you >> I just I I am I am a bit confused because this project was came to us from Mayor McCain for the stage to make the sound better to make the performances better. >> That's not true.
>> That's not true. We were given a million. >> That's what we were done. We were given a million dollars to improve the property. It wasn't for bathrooms or chairs or lights or whatever. It was to improve the property and improve the experience for those who visit. That's what the that was that and that was even
taken into account because we were going to put in fishing docks which were now removed. That had nothing to do we were we did that because of the of the community that was requesting that we didn't. So we did not put the fishing dock. So this was this was an overall improvement of the site. Period. >> Right.
>> I file the vote. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Is there a motion to approve 2226? >> Second. Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. Councilwoman Ruden. >> Skip me for a minute. I want I want to
continue to think about this. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm thinking it's an investment that is a good investment. >> She's asking if you would pass over her and come back to her. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Motion carries. >> Investment. We have to do resolution 2726, resolution authorizing the extension of the bid contract for armed and unarmed security officers for the township of West Orange municipal
building at the rate specified in the agreement. Let me just do this. >> Yeah, that >> that was one of my questions that I didn't get answered. Didn't we just approve this? >> We approved one of the other guards. This is for the courthouse for the
courts. >> Oh, okay. This is for the courts. >> This for the courts and Oh, this municipal I'm sorry, municipal building. >> This one's for the >> municipal building. I'm sorry. The other one was for the courts. This one was for the municipal building. I'm sorry. I had them backwards. I apologize. >> So, um I have some questions. It says
that it is $25 for an for an unarmed and 20 and $35 for an armed guard. And the price here is 68,000 and change which which would
amount to a armed guard. Is that what we have? Do we have an armed guard? >> We have an armed guard. Yes. >> So why do we have both prices in here? >> I believe they just bid it that way to see to give us the option what we want. But it's based on our opinion that we we would prefer an armed guard here because
it's in lie of hiring a police officer on overtime to staff because we don't have the staffing to do it. And um >> it's more money. >> It was more money. So we paid for an arm guard and it was based on input from the police department when we originally bid this out last year. So I don't know if the chief in a pine on that but that was
basically what it was. >> Well, >> and what is the >> what is the need for this? >> Our security in the building. >> I understand that. But has there has there have there been any incidents in
the building? >> Yes, there has been. people walking around several. >> Okay. And can you tell me why we do not have a metal detector at the door? >> Because at the time uh when we did the um review
um we looked at the egress. So this to give you a back history. We only we went down to one entry because due to COVID u because of controlling people in and out of the building um and then we had some safety issues. So it it became the
policy at the time to just remain all the exits egress as to exit only and not entry. So we could only we can control the flow coming in and out. Um then we when we decided to go with the security we looked at it the only way we can do entry is the rear door downstairs
because that's the only one that is handicap accessible to the um the elevator. So we put it there. when we looked at getting a magnetometer for that hallway, the the width of the hallway just is not conducive. Um, we
can we can um certainly look at getting a wand for magnetometer, but that but we also felt that it would be intrusive on those coming in because we also had concerns that people were saying, "Wait, every time I go to the town hall now, I got to get scammed like I'm going
through the airport." So, that was one of the reasons why we chose not to do so. Um, right now we've been successful with our security guard or our security system. Um, the staff has become accustomed to it. Um, we've had probably at least a half dozen if not more
incidents in the last year that required his services and some of them escalated where we actually needed to have assistance from the police. So, um, the the security officer we have, uh, not only stands at the at the back door, but at certain times of day, he does do
roaming patrols to ensure that the doors are locked and checks on the staff and to make sure everybody's safe and secure and um and we have seen a reduction in um concerns from our our staff especially because sometimes our st some of our staff sit by themselves and we don't know and people are allowed to go
into their office in some cases not all cases >> certain areas are restricted so which Clearly, >> I move for the acceptance of this motion. >> Okay. Second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Council President Scorpa, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Okay. Resolution 2826, State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program Enabling resolution for
supplemental funding request. >> Yes, I I pulled this because I have a question. Is this being done just because we are going to be making an annual request again to Green Acres every year? Right. We have to do it every year.
>> Okay. So, we've asked for this for how many years? It's a third. >> Yeah. This is year year three of the acquisition um request. Yeah. >> Okay. Even though we have owned this for for far more years, >> we've only we've made this request for
three years. And to date, how much money have we received? >> Zero dollars. >> And will that ever change? >> Yeah. Yeah. I think >> we're close. I think um the pending
items right now are uh to receive um and send them the Green Acres uh appraisal. It's a specific type of appraisal. So we had that work done with Hendrick's appraisal back in the summertime, right? >> So they're a violent >> midfall.
>> Midfall. Oh, okay. So yeah, early midfall. And then um we had to do some environmental work that uh we're waiting on a report on that area of concern and the survey was the third item.
>> Comments we received them last week. >> Yeah. >> So we're waiting. >> So now that this is our third year, will we get 3 million all at one time or is it now we are eligible for 1 million?
So they they approve every year for the amount. I don't know how they're going to pay it out because it still is always subject to state appropriations. So they may approve you for $3 million and just say, "All right, well, we're going to send you $800,000 this year and we'll
see what we can send you this year, uh, next year." Um, that is always up to state appropriations. So, we'll get the approvals and we'll eventually get the money, but it's it's up to the state to decide how they disperse the cash
on an annual basis. And we've been we were told that by Green Acres. You know, we will approve you, but it's still subject to appropriation. >> Seconds of this motion. >> Is there a second? Everybody else is
good. Let me Uh, I'll second. >> Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> The motion carries.
>> 30-26, resolution approving a debt management policy that shall serve to guide decisions and actions of the Township of West Orange's existing and future debt related activities. Councilwoman Ruden,
>> Councilwoman Ruden pulled this, but uh I I would like to speak on it in herstead if that's allowable. >> As long as she's in agreement, >> I'm glad we've gotten this far with a resolution that memorializes
this process of developing the de debt management plan. What I would like to do is for the council people who want to be involved is I'd like to take a look at this and revise it slightly so that
over the next 12 years as it becomes more challenging for us to uh finance and and to make capital projects. have this as the calling card that says in very succinctly in a page or two exactly how we got to the debt
management plan and why what the serious problems that we faced uh that resulted in the debt management plan and then also discuss what are the benefits that we're going to be uh expecting to take
place over the next 12 years. And uh I also just wanted to put in that some sort of language that would be approved by Mr. Samo and probably by the administration that talked about how this is not set in stone if something
terrible happens uh at some point and we need to uh take a take a break in the plan. we we should make it clear to everyone that that's what we're going to do because I suspect there will be some people that say, you know, this is not the way to go to set
it in stone uh because we don't know what's going to happen in the future. So, I uh was going to ask that we table this for one council meeting and uh take a quick shot at this. I don't I don't see there's that much change uh needs to happen, but I think there does need to
be some. Did you want to work on that and and give some uh feedback? >> Yeah. So, I would I would make I would >> I would move to >> Mr. Samoa >> to Yeah. Sorry. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, here's my question and I applaud you for the effort you put in
and everyone that's worked on this. But, but here, you know, so we have three contracts at our table this evening, not to tie future councils. So, I'm a little got to ask this for the attorney. How do we put a resolution in that ties future
councils to and this isn't a knock on anything. This is just a fact like this ties future councils. So, that's number one. Um, you know, we talk um, you know, that things could get worse. Well, things could get better. We could
hopefully, God willingly, sell the movie studio properties next month and all's well and we pay off a good portion of this debt because at the end of the day, that's where this debt was incurred by buying all those properties that were
intentionally bought to um to um you know when before co um during COVID and then the movie uh industry went crazy with this with the uh with the strike. and uh slowed everything down. So, good things could happen and things could
change. Again, we also have, you know, properties that we own um that we are responsible for um keeping in good condition. So, I think that's a yearly task that we have
to review this yearly and and see. So, I'm just not too anxious to tie future councils down with this or a future mayor with this, especially when we're we, you know, we can't even do a contract. So, >> Councilman Kovak, >> yeah, just very briefly, I I appreciate
you bringing this up. We owe somewhere north of $170 million. Yeah, >> you are correct that we did borrow as part of that $12.5 million settlement with Prism when we kicked them out as redeveloper. But I just want to make sure you understand if and when we sell
that property, we have already through the redevelopment agreement agreed to a price that's going to result in a loss to us of between three and four million. And if you use those valuations for for that property uh at
55 Lakeside and you apply it to 25 Lakeside where the public works uh property is we're going to be losing more millions of dollars when we sell that. So uh >> yeah, we're not done negotiating yet. >> Yeah, I I I totally agree with you,
Councilwoman. I'm glad you made that point. >> Thank But uh but you're also right that we are trying to tie ourselves to a long-term plan. I I would defer to the administration and to the town attorney. I just want this to be able when all of
us are gone from here. Nobody's on the council anymore who who put this plan together and uh you can pull out this one piece of paper and say this is why we're here today and and then we can go back over all of the benefits that have occurred so far. But anyway, I
>> Mr. Samara >> so resolutions generally apply for the year. >> Uh uh to uh the question about the contracts obligating the resolutions to execute that contract this year. The
local public contracts law under certain circumstances permit you to uh enter into a contract that's going to give you a longer span, but the resolution isn't to obligate you. That's the local public contracts law that obligates you. The
resolution is to take action on that contract today. Uh, additionally, when I looked at this resolution, uh, I did look at it with an eye uh, towards uh, what's the future impact of this? And as written, and this is why I didn't really
pose an objection to it, I I took this resolution as being inspirational. It isn't mandating it. it it's inspirational uh and uh to to that end it wasn't something that was you know ruling with an iron fist saying that you must do this but this is what we should
strive to do. Um I applaud counciloviac's issue though I I think that we can make the fact that it's inspirational but a little bit more clear. Mhm. >> Um, and uh, if you're looking for
something that is inspirational, >> um, we might be able to, and I'm thinking out loud here, that usually gets me in trouble. Uh, we might be able to throw something into the administrative code just indicating this is what should be strived to achieve. Mhm. >> Uh and then you that would be done by
ordinance, but again I wouldn't be saying you you couldn't mandate it, >> but there's certainly no harm, no foul. Uh and it may be a uh a good reminder or nudge to future administrations that hey, you know, we got into trouble once before in the past and this is something
we should strive to accomplish. >> What do you think about working with Councilman Kakoviaak to pull something together that is palatable for everybody? >> No problem. >> Okay, good. All right. Is there a motion to table this? >> Yes. I >> Yes. >> I I so move. >> I'll second it.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castle table. Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Councilman Kovac. Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Motion. >> Great. All right. Miss Gabalo.
>> Three ordinances. >> Okay. 2947-26. An ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7 traffic subsection 7-32.2 restricted parking zones of the revised general ordinances of the township of
West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on second and final reading? >> Is there a second? >> A second. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes.
>> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. public hearing. >> So, is there anyone in the public who would like to make comment on 20 2947-26? >> Seeing none, >> wait.
>> 26 29 47 >> 47 26. >> Anybody from the public? Seeing none. Yeah. And our colleagues, anyone have want to discuss this one? Council >> President, can I make just one sure suggestion?
>> I haven't been here for the adoption of an ordinance. So, I'm not sure if the council's accustomed to doing it this way, but as one of the things to expedite the process. Uh, you don't have, and I'm not sure if you do this, but some municipalities do one motion to close and then one motion to vote. You
could do that in a common motion. So, I'm not sure if you have had a history of doing it in a common motion. If you don't, you can just say, "Seeing no one here from the public wishes to address this ordinance, I move to close the public session and adopt ordinance." And that would be the motion.
>> Do you have to have a vote on closing the public? >> You could do it all in one. >> I know, but do you have to have a vote on like closing public comment? >> I think that you should either one way or the other. >> Oh, wow. We've never done it ever. >> So, you could do that. No public.
Different attorneys have different ways of doing things. You know, I >> So, a motion to close the public hearing and >> and adopt >> and adopt >> and adopt. >> Normally, we take a little bit of time >> to talk >> if we need to talk. We do that. That's been our last practice. >> Yeah.
>> And and if someone want Yeah. If someone wants to discuss, >> so then would it be appropriate to say close public comment and if there's no discussion or further discussion so she can do it all in one suite? I and no, I I under those circumstances, I would say
that I I vote to to I motion to close the public session. You do it by acclamation. You don't need a roll call on that. And then any council discussion and then a motion to adopt. >> Okay, >> got it. Too many motions >> and I thought that I was going to
simplify it. >> Okay. So, any council discussion? >> No. No. I had comment last time. >> Okay. Motion to close. We'll do a motion to close. >> Second and then >> second. >> This is going to take some time for me
to get used to. >> It's okay. It's new for all of us. >> All right. >> I like doing things a new way. New and improved way. Right. >> So, the discussion I have regarding um 48 was the same thing that we're not there yet with the vote.
>> We didn't approve 47 yet. We got a vote. >> We're on We're on our second motion. We need a third one now >> with the motion to close. So now we're going to go forward. >> Right. So who made the motion to close? I'm sorry. >> Council and who seconded that? Okay.
>> And same with closing out. >> And then we I can just say all in favor. >> Any opposed? Okay. And now there's no further discussion with the council. Great. Is there a motion to approve 2947-26?
>> Second. >> Okay. Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes. >> The motion carries. >> 2948-26. An ordinance amending and supplementing
chapter 7 traffic subsection 7-10.1 stopping or standing prohibited during certain hours on certain streets. and 7-14.3 parking time limited on certain streets during certain hours of certain days of the revised general ordinances of West
Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on second and final reading? >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Castelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> no. >> Council President Koviaak, >> yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes.
>> Okay. Public hearing. Anyone in the public want to discuss 294826? Okay. Seeing none, any discussion, >> you have to close out public comments. She has to make a motion. Seeing none. >> Do I make a motion to close before the
council discusses? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, is there a motion to close? >> Yes. >> A second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Yes. A second. They did. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, go continue the steps.
>> So, my issue with 29 48 is, as I indicated at the last meeting, um this is a proposal that is uninforceable and has been clearly articulated by our chief of police, um we're spending money to do signage and I
just think that is a waste. I think we are looking to um do a holistic plan and then on the flip side of that, we keep doing baby steps and little band-aid fixes where we need to do a comprehensive parking plan. And I just
think um to spend the money on signage to not make the business owner happy because we put up signs that are uninforcable just doesn't make sense. >> So council council that go ahead. So, I I'm totally with you with if it's not
enforced properly, it we shouldn't be passing items. Um, but if that's the case, you know, we're, you know, there has to be something in place because, you know, this is a a place of business that, you know, you have folks that are
parking there for long long periods of time, sometimes overnight. And um you know we tried on down in downtown area uh these 15-minute parking zones are 20 usually they're a little bit longer so 20 and a half hours to to help turn over
for business but if it's not enforced you are correct it's not going to work properly. Same could be said for these permits uh all over town that we're looking to pass. So if they're not enforced properly um they're useless as well. So, I don't want to make the the
chief's job harder, but I know part of the ultimate plan. I think this will help for now because a sign does help. People think they may be getting a ticket, so they won't be parking there that long. Um, so I think it will help the store owner uh temporarily.
Uh, but long-term, you're right. I I mean, we we need to be able to enforce this, but I know that is part of the long-term plan with dynamic traffic for us through the police department, whether we hire another person with uh enforcement um to to do the tickets,
which will pay for the sign itself. So, I I think we should support it right now. >> Okay. >> Oh, that's done. Okay. Now, Councilman, >> Councilmania, >> I I hear what Councilwoman Williams is
saying. Uh, but I also thought that I heard the chief say that he couldn't guarantee that there would be something along the lines of permanent uh uh placement there. But he did seem to commit to making sure that if if
>> they can fit it in, they will. And I think that's also perhaps more effective than the signage if they can just get over there. The word will spread. The word will spread. So >> I agree. We have to make some kind of effort. >> Thank you, Coun. >> One last point. We we also put them down
on the corner right by the substation in front of those stores and sometimes they're enforced and sometimes they're not. So we have to keep on top of that area as well, Chief. So thank you. >> Okay. Yeah. I >> call the vote. >> Call the vote. Is there a motion to
approve 294826 on second and final read? >> So moved. >> A second. >> Secure. Second. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. Councilman Koviaak. >> Yes. >> Council President Scarpa. >> Yes.
>> The motion carries. >> Okay. Um 2949-26 an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7 traffic article 2 subsection 7-37.1 regulation for the movement and parking
on municipal and board of education property of the revised general ordinances of West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on first reading? So >> move second. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Williams. Yes. >> Councilman Kovia. >> Yes. >> Council President Sparka. >> Yes. >> The motion carries. >> Is there anyone in the public? >> Oh, no. No. No. No. >> No hearing. But I have a I have a question. >> Wait a second. I'm sorry. I wanted to
discuss him on Yeah. Yeah. That's what ahead. >> So, so with the our police department here, um, is has there been a big issue with this? Is this why this came to us? What should we talk about this edition? >> This is the zordmen's the border on the
board of ed property. Yeah. Parking traffic on mun board of education property to add new sections to the ordinance regulating overnight parking by residents. >> Oh, the dog park. >> Yeah, this dog. >> Yes, I can answer I can answer that one.
All right. So, couple weeks ago during one of our snow events, I received a phone call from our deep one of our DPW supervisors saying we got a problem in the dog park over on Executive Drive that they can't clear it because there
is um a numerous amount of cars from Stonehill parking in the parking lot. They're parking there illegally. They they don't obtain a permit. They didn't um they don't they don't have permission to park there. It is our property. Most of our parks have an ordinance for that.
So I contacted the chief and with Captain Matulo and we spoke about it and we found that we didn't have an ordinance on the books for this park. So we couldn't remove the cars. We couldn't clear our lot proper properly and we had to wait. So, I asked Director Carbalo to
look at this and and craft this ordinance so that we can now um once we get this um approved and second reading in 20 days, the police can now enforce it, which by the time this actually gets approved and done, I'm hoping that we don't have to worry about the snow as
much, but it's something that should be done. It wasn't done. And so, we we so we we introduced it as the administration to get this done because we want to make sure not only we want to be good neighbors, but also neighbors should be good to us. And that that's our property, you know. >> So >> so request once we pass this on second
reading, can there be a correspondence to Stonehill so they can communicate to their residents because obviously it's their residents parking there. >> They need to know they can >> and so this is the second. So bring in now to you affordable housing and everyone built these
apartment buildings all over the place. This is like typical. So they charge for parking for their residents and then they go and they park in our in our parking spots. doesn't charge for their open. >> They don't they don't >> No, they only charge. >> Okay, then I apologize. So, if we could just not notify them.
>> Oh, we'll notify them. And plus also, we have to put signage up. The big thing like as you'll see even our own lot and uh over at the rena house, if we if there's not proper signage with the ordinance, our officers cannot issue a summon. So, we need to So, we need to we
need to get this to put the teeth. We don't we're not about enforcement. We're not about we're not about making money off of tickets and I want I don't I don't want John to comment on that but but we'd rather have compliance than the issuance of summits because it clogs up
our courts too. So it's just you know >> Yeah. >> but we need to have something in place because it's one of our parks and we need to be responsible for it. So >> Okay. >> That's what we're doing. That's why we're moving forward. That's why we put this request in for your consideration. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> this is a municipal lot. >> Correct. >> Correct.
>> Mhm. Shouldn't this be only for Wasn't this intended only for use of the dog park? >> Correct. >> It was not intended as overflow parking for Stonehill. >> Correct. >> So, shouldn't the sign be parking only
for dog park dog park um visitors? >> Correct. >> That of no overnight parking. >> Well, >> nobody bringing their dog there overnight. >> But so, okay. Okay. So, maybe nobody's going overnight, but now somebody's leaving their car overnight, they can't
be parking there. So, we need so we need to mark this so that the people know this is our property that it is for visitors to the property. I mean, who are we to say once somebody parks there during the daytime, they don't run into their house and park it there? But if they leave it overn there overnight, we
know that they're using our our property for a use that wasn't it wasn't designed. It seems to me that this is the wrong signage. That the signage should be this is a municipal parking lot for use for the dog park only. >> We could do that. >> Yeah, that
>> and that way you don't have to talk about >> not telling them not to park. You just ticket a car that's there overnight. >> You It's There's an objective easy way to determine if someone's parking overnight. There's not an easy objective
way to see whether or not they're in the dog park. So, if the concern is overnight, that is what the ordinance should be. If you're concerned about people using it beyond the intent of the parking lot, while it would not be
summonable, that's such a word, you could still put park on. >> The concern is that we are maintaining this lot. We're paying for repairs, for cleaning. We're also doing the dog park.
This is our park. Why are Stonehill residents allowed to park here at all ever, even for five minutes? And it's kind of enforcable because if you see that somebody has a dog and there's a car, you know that that's related. If if
there's a car there and no dog, >> dog parks, a very small dog park and it's right next to the parking lot. Yeah. Do we want to have our officers spend time to go through the park uh the dog parking with sidewalk? >> It's right next to it. If you see a dog, >> we have the chief here. Why don't we ask
him about enforcability with respect to the alternative considerations? I can just tell you from my what my experience is if it's more objective along that this is more objective, but certainly I don't have a >> an interest one way the other. Chief, >> I would prefer the ordinance that
prohibits the overnight parking. That is more uh enforceable than uh going there on a complaint from somebody saying this car is parked and we're not sure if it's uh a person that's utilizing the dog park. That would require my officer to run the plate, check with the people in
the park to see is that your park more time consuming. You know, I I would prefer the ordinance for the overnight parking to restrict um uh the residents from Stonehill using it overnight. >> Shouldn't there be a sign that says, "No, Stonehill residents are not permitted to park here."
>> Well, they can't. They're using the park. >> I wouldn't restrict it to one group of people. You'd have to indicate it's for the park only. But you could put a sign when it would be effective probably indicating for dog park only, but not going to go issue summones on that because of what the chief just said. if
the the snow covered and overnight is an easier uh easier task for his department to accomplish. >> What time is overnight? >> 2:00. >> So I mean, >> right? So that doesn't seem to encompass
what what's really happening is that cars are parking here all day, all night. So shouldn't this be no parking? There's nobody going to a dog park after 9:00 p.m. >> How can you say that? If somebody wants to use the dog park, does the dog park have hours that say it's closed? As
>> our our parks, our parks, it is at one of our parks. Our parks are closed from 10 to 6. >> Exactly. So, if I come up at 9:00 and I want to go walk my dog and my car is parked there, that's not an issue. >> The officer just said that it the overnight parking is from 2:00 to 5:00.
So, the sign should say no parking after 10:00 p.m. >> Our parks are closed in the city because our parks are not part of the park. It's part of the park. >> This is a park. >> The dog park. >> I I I think you're getting too technical with this when the sense all it is that if there's a car there between 2:00 and
5, they don't belong there and they're going to get a ticket. More than likely, the person put it there at 5:00 at night. >> I think Miss Farb Yeah. Go ahead. >> If you look at the ordinance, um the hours of restricted parking will be from 10 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. which is
>> Okay, that sounds like So, let me let me ask you a question. We have the people who use the dog park have a permit and that permit goes where? On their car. >> The health department issues the the
>> And where does that permit go? >> I believe it's on the collar, but I don't know. >> Yes. >> Yeah, that's true. >> Yeah, I believe it goes on the collar, but but you got to remember our enforcement rangers aren't always there every single minute, you know. Uh we have we have R park rangers. We have our health uh
>> our health inspectors go up there to check the uh the conditions of the dog park. Um and so we have people going in and out, but we don't know when somebody's going to go walk their dog. We have no idea. We can't and and to your point about matching up the car with the dog. We don't know who's
standing there in the park with the dog. I mean, how do you how do you determine that unless we go up to the person and then we but and at that point the ranger should be going up, do you have a permit to be in here? and you know, but the ranger is not going to issue a summon for the the the car. >> What's the purpose of having the permit
then to to raise a little bit of money >> to to ensure that West Orange residents are using the property which are >> also to make sure that dogs are >> licensed and vaccinated >> vaccinated. >> Okay. >> Second.
>> Councilwoman Castelino. Yes. Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> yes. >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Okay, moving right along. It's only quarter to 10. Oh, you may break a
record. 2951-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 7 traffic subsection 7-7.3 temporary parking prohibition for snow plowing and removal and 7-14.1C night parking restricted of the general
revised general ordinances of West Orange. Is there a motion to introduce on first reading? >> So, a second. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Uh, yes. For discussion. Councilwoman Ruden,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, Councilman Koviaak, >> no. >> Council President Scarpa, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Yeah. Council Castelina, go ahead. >> So, >> I you know, I I don't live by Kent, but
I know enough people >> that live on Kent and always visit that street when I campaign in the past. And I've never ever heard the overnight issue until recently. Um, are we looking into this? Are we
seeing why there's so many cars parked outside on this street and then why the need like why this request was made? >> What do you think? >> So, the request was made actually by a resident who recently moved to the
township and didn't understand why there is no parking allowed overnight. And she said that she also has a vehicle that is I guess a work vehicle that she needs to park outside. >> Oh, well there she goes. So, um, is it a
commercial play vehicle? Cuz we don't allow that in the township. >> I don't believe so. >> And I know everyone on that street has a driveway. Long drive. Yes, they do. >> They have long driveway. So, I I Okay. So, I I get that, but And you didn't do a survey?
>> No. >> Yeah. I I'm not I don't want Again, this is we're doing >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't understand why this even got this far. Um again, I I voted just to have this discussion because I think it's
important. It's on the record cuz I I know people on that street are upset about this and they do not want the overnight parking on their street especially after they had all the issues with um the restaurant that was over by the Woolshshire when you know that was open late and and they definitely don't
want people staying there and overflow coming onto their street and I know that's been quiet now but someday that there's another restaurant there or if god forbid there's you know another apartment building in between that street and and and Ronald um that's
going to cause parking issues on there overnight. So yeah, I I don't >> you know we we voted on on to first read on I >> make a recommendation. >> I don't know how we get it.
>> Director Cabalo. >> Sure. I >> you got this. >> I am very concerned that residents are contacting you and making requests and demands and we're not again systematic in how we are doing application. We're
just doing random runoffs based on requests. And if I listen to the dynamic traffic study, even their recommendations and description of our parking situation throughout the township is that it was
done willy-nilly um without a methodical process to determine what should be what. And it seems like every time we're making these parking changes, we're not looking systematically. Does this make sense in that area? And
and I just think we need to slow down on some of these changes and make sure we're all in sync because we are we're doing one thing in one area and it's not consistent throughout the town which makes it seem like it's preferential treatment. >> Yeah.
>> To some neighbors and we we have to stop doing that. >> Yeah. >> We have to >> we need to survey how all the neighbors just like when we did with the oneways and all that. we can't do these >> things and and I want to start putting overnight parking up the hill >> and as I read there are a lot of problems up there and have been for a
very long time. So ask people who have lived there for 20 years. >> Okay. >> So then what is the process because we've already approved this for >> discussion >> discussion on first reading. >> You approved it. You introduced it on
first. >> I'd like to make a motion to vote on this. a second >> to to reconsider. >> No, to to vote to take a vote. >> I think we just we just >> Your vote was
like I'd like to take a vote on >> reconsideration. >> No. >> And then you vote then I voted voted. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> A two vote process to undo the vote that introduced it. >> So you didn't introduce it. We always we always do this to discuss
>> because we need to discuss it. No. >> Yes. To vote. I'd like to vote this down. >> So let's let's do what? Let's do >> I think that the confusion is >> on second read. That's where you have a discussion. So you take not
>> upon an introduction of an ordinance there generally is not discussion, but that's what you decided to do by way of that's okay. >> But the vote that you took was to introduce. >> Correct. Now, you have to have a vote to reconsider. >> Okay? >> And then ask and and then you get an affirmative. Okay? That means that we're
going to do a new vote. Is there a motion? And the vote the motion would be if this is the option of the board, I vote no. >> My motion is to say no. >> She moved it. I'll second it. >> Second. >> This is a motion to reconsider.
>> Yeah. >> And who who moved it? I'm sorry. I did. >> Council wrote in. Okay. Councilwoman Castelino, this is the motion to reconsider. >> Yes. Councilwoman Ruden, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Williams, >> Councilman Koviaak, >> yes.
>> Council President, >> yes. >> Okay. So, that motion carries >> to unintroduce. >> Not to. >> Yeah. >> Um, yes. So, I I'm going to resend that and not introduce this on first reading. >> Okay. Good. So the motion fails.
>> Motion fails then. >> No, you need a second. >> Wait a minute. Understand? So >> or or or or you could just now to recons. >> They did it to reconsider. So now we have to revote it. But you don't vote it. They don't have to have a motion.
>> Correct. Now you now you could go for and there's no motion. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So there's no motion now to introduce. So now if I ask again, is there a motion to introduce on first? Any law saying that says anything >> or no?
>> Right. Because no motion >> and then we skipped over 2950. >> Yeah, we skipped 20. 2950 right above it. >> I have a vote. >> No, that was a dog roll. That was for 49. >> I have one for 49. I have one for 50. And I have one for
>> Oh, no. We did. We did one. We did vote for 2950. >> Okay. I I did all of those. >> Okay. >> We trust you. 2952 >> 2952 >> capital ordinance providing for the cost of preliminary engineering expenses in
connection with the Gregory Avenue and L Avenue safe roots school project appropriating $387,4759 therefore to pay for the cost thereof which amount will be funded by a grant in the amount of $387,4759
received or expected to be received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Is there a motion to introduce? >> I move to introduce. >> A second. >> Councilwoman Castelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ruden. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Williams. >> Yes. >> Councilman Koviaak.
>> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> This goes back to that Gregory. This plan for the Gregory area. >> Have to talk about it now. We can speak. >> That's it. >> I know. Pending matters. >> All right. Pending matters. Do you have discussion on stop sign ordinance?
>> Yes. >> I'd like to introduce the next um at the next council meeting the uh a resolution on stop signs. >> This is what they're going to talk about. >> An ordinance. >> An ordinance.
>> Chief, did you want to did you were you interested in talking about this? I know you said you had somebody who >> uh Yeah. So, President Ree, um, going over it, uh, we're opposed to changing the 50 ft rule. Um, it's a a line of
sight issue for anybody walking in that area to Hazel School to see all crab. Um, it's makes it difficult for the fire trucks, for garbage trucks, landscape trucks with trailers, and we're trying to prevent crashes instead of cause them
with the site problem. So, >> okay. >> Yes. Counciloman Castle, >> I don't did you want to comment? >> I I do because then if the recommendation from the police department is that we not do this, why
are we even continuing the discussion? >> And the director and our and our engineer. I I don't understand why taking recommendation for health professionals who do this every day as opposed to any further discussion.
>> I would like to have further discussion. >> Okay. MBA, would you like to >> When I first proposed this, I was told that we could not do this because this was in a school district. I requested all of the names of the streets that were in a school district and none of
these streets were in a school district. Now what we are being told is that the line of sight issues. The story keeps changing. This is affecting one particular area where every single street now has stop signs at both ends
and how and and parking spaces have been removed as a result. I am not asking for 50 for for it to be um what I am asking for is this to be
reduced to 25 ft instead of 50 ft so that at least one more car can be parked there and I think that that would that would give you a line of sight and it would give the residents one more parking spot. They did not have this
requirement until very recently. There's virtually no other area in town where we adhere to 50 ft from a stop sign. So that is why my request is that it be changed, which we have the right to do,
to go to 25 ft. >> Councilwoman Castelino had something to say. Go ahead. >> So, Councilwoman, you know, very passionate about it. I know you're trying to be responsive to the residents and I I applaud you for that. I am the only person up here that actually lives
in an area of town that has overnight parking. I'll go home tonight. Last time 1:00 in the morning and I got somebody too close to the stop sign because I know they're always there and and please on Valley Way, please give tickets. I I
almost crash into this guy all the time and it's frustrating. So, you don't see this at night. at night when all the cars are loaded up on the streets down the down in our downtown corridors. It's tough to to navigate. So, I understand
the issue with the parking and you're trying to free up a an extra spot for the residents and I applaud you for that. But I'm going by our officials and our officials say that we can't do it. There's line of sight vision. I believe them. I don't think there's a big
conspiracy here. I believe them because I see it every every night when I drive home. It you cannot have cars that close to the stop signs. I'm sorry. Your street where you you know you folks live, it's it's it's they're wider.
They're more spread out. It's dangerous and and people don't adhere to it. They they that's why you got to give out tickets. >> Municipalities are permitted to make the ordinance smaller than what it than what it is. 25 ft is a lot of distance from a
from a stop sign. >> I understand that. I totally understand that. But again, our profess our township professionals, you need to be respectful of them. Well, you don't have to be. I I respect their judgment. Okay. >> So, I'm going to call the vote on that.
>> Council Councilwoman, first of all, that's very rude. >> Well, you make make me get like this. I'm sorry. >> I don't make you do anything. I am advocating for this to be 25 ft rather than 50 feet. I definitely respect our
our um professionals, but the reason I was told that this was not permitted was because these were school streets and that reason has now changed >> to an issue that is about >> I never heard that. And so I
>> I have emails back and forth. So I can show you >> I can show you what the reason was for not having stop signs. >> Well, we just now heard our professional say this. >> Perhaps that was originally the um one of the objections, but now we've heard from our professionals and there further
objections. So I think we need to listen to that carefully. >> Are you saying that 25 ft would not be adequate? Because this entire area did not have stop signs until very recently. those at stops. >> They I mean it was not >> the 50 ft enforcement was not enforced
until very recently. And by the way, the Satan Hall students are allowed to park within that 50 ft. >> They need to get tickets. >> We write the numbers on the top of the head and I can't. >> Sergeant Reese, can you talk into the
microphone? >> Our parking enforcement officer has been writing tickets now in that specific area since this came up. um when Captain Matulo stood here and we've been counting the spaces in the area. Um they write anywhere from
35 to 71 tickets a day. >> Wow. Keep >> specific to that area all over our downtown corridor. >> Um we recently trained them in title 39 to allow them to write the uh 50 ft of a stop sign. So they started writing that
recently. are traffic officers, right? The the stop sign summons patrol officers >> in town where you enforce the 50 ft. >> Yes. >> From stop. >> The height section is enforced pretty uh regularly. >> Is it on Rollinsson?
>> Where on Rollinsson? As far as the new stop signs that were just recently installed two years ago, >> I imagine it would be of course there also >> the Lord section. You need to go to Elm Street and Valley Way. >> No.
>> Um, call the vote. >> There is no vote because this is just discuss >> pursu by laws. Council president, do you supervise the agenda? >> Okay. >> Um, in light of this discussion, you
might feel it appropriate >> for the ordinance. Okay. Okay. If there isn't, then there wouldn't be necessity to dispend. >> Let's do that. Let's just poll everyone and see if there's an appetite to do. >> Would you like me to do that? >> Yes, you would. Of course, >> Councilwoman Castelino.
>> So, so, Councilwoman, again, I appreciate you your you you're you're advocating for this and and you I I could understand if you're being told one thing and and then something else. So, I I understand your frustration. Um, please give the tickets to the other
parts of town so everybody feels it's consistent. I know you've been have been writing a lot of tickets, so we're going to get phone calls for that. Um, but yeah, I I just have to go by I don't feel comfortable naming the feet from a stop sign. That's why we have our
professional. So, um, I'm not going to be able to support this, but I appreciate your advocacy. >> Councilwoman Ruden, >> no. Councilwoman Williams. >> No. >> Councilman Kakoviaak. >> I'm sorry. Now I'm confused. It used to
be during new business that we would just have an up and down vote. Now we're not having an up and down vote where we're polling. And what is the question that we're supposed to be >> respon >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Yeah. Is there support to put this on
for an evidence to be put? >> Is there support to put this on? >> Yeah, that's what we're taking. >> That's what we're taking a poll on. >> No, I do not support putting this on. >> It was your >> It was you. You said you wanted it on. >> Your >> Oh, I'm so sorry. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> See, this is why it's only 10. We're going to get out of here. Yours is
>> Yes. Yes. I'm so sorry. >> Okay. >> So, there's no uh >> Councilman Kovia. >> No. >> Okay. and uh council president. Okay, so that's four nay, >> right? Uh and I just have one Yeah. >> and one yay, >> right? >> Okay. Thank you.
>> And I just have one thing I want to discuss. Mr. Smero and I have been talking about how to streamline our operations here and move this forward. We have discussed having two public comments. I had mentioned to him that I didn't think um you know having the
public weight would be something that would fly in our township and that's why I like the idea of uh eliminating the conference agenda other than when we we are having um the students in and maybe
start the public comment that for non-aggenda items at 6:30 and we'd have another half hour to do that and encourage everybody maybe to speed it up. maybe a smaller amount of time to speak on non-aggenda items, but what are your thoughts?
>> So, uh, I'll throw a couple different thoughts out there and I'll certainly excuse me one second, Mr. Summer. I'll just >> Council President, unless our professional >> Oh, no. No. Can they be discussed? >> Yes, absolutely. >> I don't need them standing there while we're discussing this. So, I'm sorry. I
apologize. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Director Miss Carbala will try to speed it up next time. Perfect. >> No problem. No problem. It's >> early for her.
>> Exactly. That's help. So, I have a couple thoughts. Uh, but council president, please don't let me forget to address your idea because there's I think there's different >> Yeah. I just want everyone to kind of give their thoughts. Um, and
I understand that what I I'm about to say, Gene, not change anyone's opinion because I I I think that there's a very strong opinion about public inclusion here. Um but the purpose of accounting is to conduct
the business of the of the municipality and the open public meetings act uh acknowledged that uh it's a designated public forum and therefore
warranted the ability of the public to address the public in the public forum. But that was secondary. That wasn't primary. We weren't holding a meeting solely for the purposes of the public to defeat the
public. It was to conduct the business. >> So, uh, that's one thought. That's and and these thoughts are are somewhat in random form. >> Uh, I've done this for more years than I care to admit. You can tell by my beard at this point. I've been around. Um,
I have not come across a town that had two public sessions to speak about anything. If they do have two public sessions, the first public session generally is limited to agenda items.
Uh, you could address the time limit. There's there's decisions out there that indicate that the regulation down to 3 minutes is upholdable. So that's another thing that you could do either for an agenda specific uh public comment or a
general public comment. Um you could have the second public com if you were to consider having the first public comment to be agenda based only. You could have the second public comment
that would be the general public comment come immediately after the business is completed and before there's an executive session. >> Uh another thing that you could do >> uh is you could
restructure the agenda where council people have some restrictions on how they respond to the public. Uh, candidly, I I've not represented a town where every member of the governing body represented every uh responded to every
single member of the public that spoke. Um, so if you wanted to try to regulate that, there's a couple different ways you could do it. Uh, you could have council reports and do that later after
business so that each council person has the ability to address the comments of the public. But it's not going to be before the business is done. If the goal is to get the business done sooner so you could release your department heads sooner, uh that's one way that you could do it. You could address the public
comments as members of the governing body after the business is done. >> You also could, and I haven't seen this done, but I think that you had mentioned council president, and it's it's not a bad idea, >> don't address individuals, but address topics.
>> I think that would move it along. Okay, that that's another way that uh you could do it. So, those are uh those are ways that you could streamline this if you were so inclined. Um the idea of dispensing with the 6:30
conference. >> Mhm. >> Uh would I and that's public notice, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we would have to amend the notice, but we could >> that would be good. >> And and you could fold whatever it would be that you would cover at the conference
>> in new business and add it as an agenda item after >> recognizing people. >> Yeah, we uh >> too late >> the the working agenda. Uh we recently did that in Kennallorth. Kennel Kennorth
always had a work session meeting >> uh before the business meeting and that's exactly what they did. They they moved the business meeting to the time that was previously scheduled for the work session and they they just added whatever they would have put in the work
session under new business at the end of the agenda. >> Can I Yeah. >> So that won't work here because it's usually like it was tonight bringing in teams um doing proclamations for different organizations. You don't have to. You could just throw you you could
create your agenda that if there are proclamations, you put them to the beginning of the agenda and if if so you could do that, >> right? >> Okay. And you can still do it in in one meeting. Um I wasn't here at the beginning, but I imagine that you didn't
do it differently than other towns. You probably have a roll call for the conference uh meeting as well, correct? M so that you save the time of having two roll walls cuz it's one, >> right? >> You could add the proclamations if any as a spaceholder at the beginning of the agenda so that you don't push those
people at the back. Uh what you do is you have I told you what the options are with the public session. I told you what the options you could do with respect to council responses. Um but you just have to renotice. So that gets the meeting started earlier.
>> I'd like to do that. Yeah. uh it it dispenses with some duplicity. >> Mhm. >> Um and >> yeah, >> on those evenings where you don't have proclamations, you actually get the ball rolling a half hour soon, >> right? I'd like to limit the proclamations because that does isn't not really related to our business
unless we're unless we're honoring the students, which is like kind of quarterly. >> Oh, not not I mean, what are we doing if we I'd like to limit the proclamations. So those are participants in the town that we acknowledge for the volunteer
work that most of the time they do. I am not supportive of not acknowledging the residents in this town. I think that is one of the highlights of coming to our council meetings. >> What do you what do my other council colleagues think about that? >> I think that we have a lot of business
that we need to attend to and that this is should be a serious meeting. I think proclamations of of our residents and accom accolades and awards should be done but not on our time.
>> Councilman Koviaak, you have any thoughts? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. >> Uh first of all, I just want to I I want to perhaps clarify. We started out with this uh process by
I think everybody accepting that we needed to give notice that the new business sub agenda was just like every other piece of the agenda in which we need to notice on the agenda so that the
residents could know what's coming up. And we're again talking about this for a second council meeting and we have not noticed this issue either time. And I I I don't know why, but I think it's much
more preferable to do that than to uh what we appear to be doing now without doing it, which is to just introduce from the floor. we we're we're just like willy-nilly bringing this stuff up and I think we need to give notice uh going
forward. I also think that um if we're going to consider changing the ordinance, I think we need to add amendments to try to get council members to contribute to shorter meetings. If we're asking residents to shoulder the burden of our two long meetings, we should also share that burden. And I
think we should put a fivem minute limit uh to respond to public comment uh for each council member. I think we should give each council member three minutes a limit to speak on bills, resolutions, and ordinances and uh um
and hold them to strict limits and uh get the clerk to keep the clock. I've got more details, but those are uh those are >> some of my thoughts. And I also think that it's going to be confusing to people uh who don't know whether
public comment starts at 6:30 or 7. And right now they all know that public comment starts at 7. >> Uh madame clerk. >> Yes. So um the the title of this is pending matters, new matters, council discussion. So pending matters can
certainly be listed because they're pending, but new matters can be brought up from the floor. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Um >> it should be >> right if somebody, you know, a council member has a concern or wants to discuss something. Um, the other part I wanted
to talk about is, you know, Councilman Koviaak when he was council president sat with administration and myself to um, you know, try to get council members to ask their questions before the
meeting. And yet we still have numerous questions being asked on several different resolutions. And it's not one or two questions. We spent 25 minutes on one resolution tonight. We spent 10 minutes on another resolution. I I think
that needs to be limited. And also, we don't have bills right now, but the bills, we literally had a 45minute discussion on bills one night. I mean, that is that is a big part of the problem of the you know, it the council
and it takes up a lot of time in the clerk's office. Right now, I am by myself in the clerk's office. I don't have anyone else. Uh my assistant is out on maternity leave and I am solo. I spent the entire day until 3:15 today working on Oprah and it was the first
time I took a bathroom break. No lunch, no nothing. It's a burden and I spoke to, you know, Mr. Moraldo tonight and I said I don't want to do it anymore as far as you know having the council do their questions and then everyone you
know in administration and directors and department heads you know they jump on it and they try to get all the answers to the council and then there may be follow-up questions that would be wonderful if it was a work working it's not working it's still not working so I
I think it's really unfair to not only the clerk's office it's unfair there to all of the directors and all the department heads who have to sit down and put down all their answers and yet when we get here there's still 25 minutes worth of questions that continue
on. It's it's not fair to have the time just to piggy back on what uh >> Miss Caraval is saying is that >> so um the other day so we we we're required to send everything by 3 p.m. to the clerk's office and unless there's an
extenduating circumstance then we contact the council president to add or or ask for issue to add but even with the questions coming in the other day we didn't receive them probably till about a little bit about I think around 4ish or so whatever the time frame was I and to the car to Miss Caral who sent it to
me and I sent it out we did have off yesterday for the holidays so a lot of our directors weren't there and unfortunately so I I need to apologize to you for the questions today is that unfortunately we had a um an ISS issue with um our email system and um it was
compromised. It was >> it was compromised in a sense of that it didn't cause any damage to our system but we needed to to um address it and so we couldn't give out those answers right away. So there was no delay on purpose this weekend or what happened was just
it was the the uh circumstances dictated the the process for this particular one. The other thing is though, as we receive resolutions and ordinances and things of that nature, our staff does send it to the clerk's office and does drop it into the SharePoint so that it can be
accessible to you without being on a formal um um you know, agenda, but you can start reviewing it. So, if you do have the questions, then this way we can get it because sometimes our staff, you know, they're either out or they're not around or whatever the case may be. Um and we can't just get to it, hop on it
right away, you know. Um, so, so I think if we can get that better, um, we're we're working with our staff to get things early and if you can get those questions ahead of time and I do try to get them all in one document so that this way um, when we do get the answers that we try to just do one centralized,
you notice that Mr. Davenport puts it together for me and then I I'll forward it out to you. So this way we try and answer everything as best as possible and I think it has the chance of getting better, but we need to, you know, we just need to look at the It's working. I'm finding it very helpful. Even
though, you know, we all can't get everything as quickly as we want to, it really helps me a lot to understand the issues and I have a lot less question. >> My office is uh getting up to speed and and and we're getting to the point where >> uh where I I have different people
assigned to different types of document reviews, whether they're resolutions or ordinances. So, I think that you're going to see that we're going to be getting them back to uh Karen's office uh more rapidly so that they could be put on that earlier than they have been the last month.
>> No, I appreciate you've got a lot on your plate. Uh Councilwoman Castelino, did you >> Yeah. Yeah, that's what I mean. >> Um so, here's my thoughts on all this. So, first of all, I know you want to start 6:30. um come the spring, it's going to be hard for me to make it here
on time 6:30 um for like a two-month span um because of my obligation that I have during the day and so sometimes I may be 6:45 >> and but our public is work, you know, a
lot of people work in traffic and they don't get home. So, I'm with Councilman Kobiaak with the 700 p.m. because I think people expect to come here and talk at 700 p.m. I you nobody wants to go down even a minute like with public comment to four minutes. We tried that
one year. That experiment and that didn't even work. So, I don't know what we're going to change in regards to the public comment. Like I said, it works at the school district. It's never an issue. But just to just for our attorney just so you know once you start sitting here like tonight I sat here there were
personal attacks made from some of the comments. Yeah. >> Um there's misinformation. >> So we we do get that uh within the uh the evening. Unfortunately uh myself personally to limit myself. I'm sorry. Um I'm not ever going to
limit myself. I'm going to be mindful on my own and police myself. But um if somebody's making a personal attack towards me or if I hear a misinformation, I'm clarifying it. I'm not going to leave that up to one of my colleagues to do that. I'll take that on on myself. And uh I you know so I I
think that's important. But again, everybody look at the clock, be mindful and and we get through. But yeah, there are um you know, ask our questions. Sometimes I I will ask an additional question that I might have asked prior to the meeting because of due to
response from what one of my colleagues have said and I I think I think that is a good working relationship up here that we feed off of each other >> especially when we all have differences of opinions. I would agree >> at many different times. So I I I don't
I don't mind that. I just think we need to be mindful. I don't believe we're going to change anything. I think we should just end this discussion because it it's everybody does give us some thought. >> I I mean just everybody be mindful and you hope the public will be mindful but
again I I the school district it works with the the comments in in the beginning and and because the meetings are shorter but >> I just don't see things changing here. >> Okay. Councilwoman Williams >> have we wrapped up this subject? Oh, wait. One thing, but conference agenda.
I'm going to be firm with Councilwoman Williams because people are sick and tired of the negativity that comes out of these meetings. When we have what I call happy time that we had here this evening, it is important for the public
to see some some very positive moments from our community. And this is conference agenda has always been a place where we could uh showcase um these items. If you want to take it down to one meeting a month and we agree it's
either the first meeting of the month we do recognitions or the second meeting we don't have to do with both meetings. >> I don't have an issue with that. But to to take it away alto together I like we couldn't it took us a while to get the kids in here because we only had one meeting in December. So, we couldn't get
our athletic kids, young young athletes. Um, but again, to take that away, I I mean, we have got to show the positive things in our community. And if if you don't think that's important, I I I we
got to get our work done, that's important, too. But it's all part of it. It's a package deal. That's how I feel anyway. >> Does any does anybody have an appetite to take the conference agenda down to maybe once once a month? I would say quarterly. I do not think that we need
to have a conference in Benda. I think that that it is not the business of the council to be giving awards. We can schedule that for another period of time. >> Council, >> I'd be willing to consider knocking it
down to once a month. >> I like that idea. >> And see if see if that fulfills the uh the need, >> right? Yeah. What are you going to do for the other >> If we do the first se the first um session of the the first meeting of the
month and then the second one we start right at 6:30 and hit the ground running. >> I think that is um not the best consideration when you have your elected official sitting at this stis telling you that she cannot get here on time for
6:30. Oh, you can't get here for >> not. Well, I'm going to have I'm going to have some issues for two months. So, I I cannot No, I think we and and public comment should be be at 7:00. My other issue is is it's just not the
recognitions. We've also utilized the 6:30 to 7 window for presentations from the administration. >> That would be that's great. That's what I wanted to use. and we have well we haven't been you know we we need to do a little bit more of that when there's something to inform us. So I think it's
important to >> keep that time frame there >> and um you know you I I just think it's important I wouldn't I wouldn't bail on it. >> People expect to be able to get home even if you get
off work at 5:00 you get home at 5:30. You have kids. You got to eat. you got to do homework. Again, you know, the there's an opportunity if we really wanted to change and make this much more brief, we could say we could meet at 5:00 or 4:00,
>> right? >> But again, is it are we meeting on behalf of our community to get the business of the township done and yes, but the business of the community is also recognition and acknowledgement.
It's just not about ordinances and resolutions. It's about being in the community, serving the community, participating in the community, and being supportive of the community. >> Woman Ruden, >> we have a uh yearly mayor's breakfast
for recognition for employees and for others. I again, I reiterate, we do not need to be doing this at council time. Um, >> I would agree. Why don't we all think about it and sit on it? Is there any appetite?
>> I also I also want to respond to to the issue that that the count uh council clerk raised about questions and how long it takes to to ask questions when we're up here. Um I think that you have seen that many many times not just today because of the it many many times I
don't get answers to my questions and when I come here I still have questions I have a fiduciary responsibility to the people who elected me and the people who did not elect me to find out how our money is being spent and what projects
we're doing here. So I think that this is part of my job. I think it's part of the administration's job to answer the questions that I'm asking and you know that's that's what we're here for and if it takes a little bit of time then it takes a little bit of time. I think we
did this very nicely today while asking questions that were not previously answered and I think that's very important. >> I think it's important for the public >> previously because that's my whole >> I did not ask I I'm not asking questions that I have got that I have received
answers to. I am not doing that. I am asking questions that I did not receive question answers to. >> And today there were there was some response that came in at 4:36. >> I well read through everything at at
4:36 and get >> I understand but this is not the first time. So I am not trying to, you know, as you say in Yiddish, stray your cup, like make you crazy with things. I am just trying to get answers to the questions that I have and that
constituents have and that I feel is my responsibility to truly understand before I take a vote. I take every vote, whether it's $2,800 or 20, you know, $2 million. I take every vote seriously and every bit of
money that is the public's money very very seriously >> and and I appreciate you tonight I saw you were going to vote no twice on something and because we did have discussion you wound up voting yes so I I I do appreciate that. Um so yeah so we just all got to look at the clock do a
better job I think >> I think so. So let's all just uh sleep on this one. um if there's any appetite to having the um public comment that is not on any agenda items a lesser time like three minutes is there any appetite
for that >> I I think you would have to make it consistent okay make one thing three minutes and one thing five okay it should public comment should be three minutes like most municipalities >> of the 566 municipalities I think that
we learned that less than 10% have five minutes for public comment. >> Okay. So, let's just sleep on this and I think we can wrap it up. >> No. Um Oh, you got something else? >> Yeah, we just needed to um put on the record and make a decision if we want to
support um an ad for St. Patrick's Day from the council. Um the ad cost isund >> 50 is it >> 100 for 150 for a half page ad and a full page
ad is 300. >> Uh I think in the past we've done a half page. I remember like everybody paying 25 $30. I'm good with that. So all of the council members would um contribute. So uh what did what are the thoughts on that down there? Councilwoman Koviaak
and Council >> fine with me. I'm all in. >> Yeah, I still made up regardless. >> All right. >> Um, is there any objection to me creating an ad on our behalf? >> No, >> I would like to see it before you put it in. Yes. >> Is there any objection to the creating
yet? Was my question. Of course, I'll show it to everyone. >> Um, >> if we're finished with that, I have one other one other question. the forensic audit. When is that? Has that been put out for
bid? >> We didn't put it out yet. We had all the professional service contracts that we're still dealing with and and and trying to get that. We did get the bid from Clifton. We got it converted into Word, made our changes. Paul's just got
to put it out, but we have to let her figure out all the professional service resolutions with Mr. sarero so that we can get them on for the next meeting. As you notice, we haven't appointed our professionals yet. So, that's what she's
busy with. You know, we're doing the scoring on on all the RFPs that we did. So, we'll get it out. We will we will and and using Clifton was, you know, really the best thing that we could do
because it it really Clifton's are um Clifton's RFP for a forensic audit is the model that we've used. >> Oh, the original model that we used, the amounts that we were hearing were like
way too much because we were asking for way too many transactions to be individually audited. So, All right. Okay. Motion to adjurnn. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Meeting's adjourned.
>> Okay. >> And 11's going to be our hard stop. stands for not.