requirements of the sunshine law have been met. This meeting was advertised in Burlington County times. Electronic notice was given to the NJAC 539-1.5. We will now start with the pledge of allegiance. Let me ask you, you want to start with the pledge of allegiance,
little guy. I know you know it. So, you started out. Make sure you say it loud. >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. We will now have a moment of silence. >> Roll call. >> Present. Mine >> here, >> man. Mr. Park >> here, >> committee woman, Miss Mona >> here, >> Mayor Henley >> here, >> council president
township administrator, the township deputy administrator, police chief, the fires chief, and the CFO. >> We now have a presentation of our 2026 municipal budget from our CFO, uh, Mr. John Barrett.
>> Good evening, everyone. Thank you for, uh, having us. It's that time of year again. we call the budget season. So, um we wanted to just go over briefly some notes uh associated with the budget that's before you to be introduced. Uh first of all, we are not under local review this year. So, this budget will
be going to the state of New Jersey uh for their review and we'll come back uh accordingly. Um the average assessment for the town for a residential property pretty much remain the same about $241,000 on average. Um the uh 26 budget uh is
introduced at a little bit over $16 million. Uh last year's budget was about 14.4. So about $600,000 increase year-over-year. Uh our levy cap. Um we have uh two uh caps that need to be maintained. Our levy cap and our
appropriation cap. It's always right now a problem with the appropriation cap. Many towns are going to seek cap relief waiverss from the division for the local finance board. uh this year we do not have to do that. Um but I would caution us that moving forward that based on
increasing expenditures that we might be faced with that and usually it's mostly health care and other uh situations. So um right now based on your uh budget planning over the last few years and your wise use of the taxpayer dollars,
you have banked over $1.1 million worth of levy cap bank based on as we sit here right now. That means that if um if the administrator um in in designing this budget uh would want to be fired or otherwise uh or beaten in public that we
had to we could have raised taxes 9 cents in this town. And of course uh we don't want that to happen to this good man here. Um, so in essence to to cut down uh the jokes and to get down to the brass tax of this budget, uh I'm happy to report uh that our tax rate uh will
is estimated uh has gone from 81 cents down on 1/10enth of 1% uh down to 80.9. So you can say you decreased taxes, the tax rate, but you had nothing to do with that because ultimately >> I was going to take a lot of the credit. >> That's why I wanted to cut you off. So
our levy went up $160,000 as introduced. um about 125,000 of that has to do with the added and omitted uh construction that gets added on in the course of the year. So that's a natural bump that we're allowed to increase. So that means
that uh right now uh we have uh surplus at the end has increased uh at the end of um uh 24 uh to the end of 25 by about $2 million. uh which is great and a lot of it has to do with the new ratable growth and those coming on the on the
books and records of the town. So to end the uh 24 fund balance we had 2.9 million at the end of 25 we had just over $5 million. Uh so that means that this year uh in order to keep the tax rate flat uh so that we only control the
local municipal portion of the tax bill. We do not control the county uh or the schools. Um, so we must focus on that. And I'm predicting based on our calculations that for the municipal portion of the tax bill for an average resident uh at 241,000 if their
assessment hasn't changed year-over-year that they're going to get the same municipal tax portion year-over-year. So that's great. You held the line on taxes. Now you say at to what detriment or to risk of the future fund balance. Um we have increased our utilization of
fund balance um uh to um well uh let me take my notes here. Yeah. So we actually reinvested um we usually used about used about 1.9 million of our fund balance. Uh we reinvested about half million of that fund balance into this budget. Uh
so our fund balance um basically is in great shape right now. are unallocated fund balance and really that's uh that's really all the news uh to print. So that's congratulations. I know last year we had a tax increase because we had to. This year I think uh this is a sound
budget. It lives within our cap uh and um and much of this goes the tribute goes to uh Jim and his management of the town plus his preparation of the appropriation side of this budget. So thank you Jim for your work. >> Thank you Jim. >> That's all I have.
>> Thank you. Moving on from that, we have reports WTES monthly public works construction courts WTEES 2025 annual uh approval of minutes April 7, 2026 regular session.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Mr. Paula. >> Yes. >> Miss Miy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Park. >> Yes. vote. >> Same. >> Mayor Manning. >> Yes. >> Form. Yes. One extension. Motion passes. >> We now open the meeting for public comment on agenda items only. Please
remember to state your name and address for the record. >> Sure. We're going to open the meeting for to public comments on agenda items only. Um so if you have a public comment on something that's on the agenda, now is the time to do so. Sir, >> just on the agenda?
>> Yes. We'll have another one. We have another open. I'll grab you when that happens. Um, with no public comments, we're going to close public comment. All in favor? >> I. >> Ordinances, first reading. Ordinance, second reading. The ordinance, first
reading. There's nothing. Ordinance, second reading. 8-2026 ordinance amending chapter 2000 2250 and chapter 119 of the West Hampton Township zoning code to remove self- storage facilities as permitted uses and to permit self
storage facilities as conditionally used in the B1 zoning area. Um we're going to ask I'm going to ask to table this till next meeting. Do we have a motion to table? >> So move second. >> Any discussion? Roll call.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Resolution 74-26. Resolution to introduce the 2026 municipal budget. Do you have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion?
Uh, I have a discuss, not discussion, but comments. I'd like to thank our CFO John for, you know, being here to discuss the budget. Uh, you know, it's it's if we have a lot of questions, it's always better to have the professional here to do so. I thank, you know, Jim
for being here to doing the budget and taking his time. I know he's been working on the budget for quite a while. And I would hope that the residents recognize that it's not very easy when you want when we increase police, increase fire. I think that we bought, you know, some new instruing
things, but in all, it's a lot of moving parts. So, those guys getting that work done, it it's uh and and us to not have a tax increase with the way, you know, the schools have had to increase lately and some of the things around us is good for our residents. Uh with that being said, uh roll call.
>> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Park, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. Mayor, >> yes. 75-26 payment of vouch payment of vouchers. This resolution approves the payment of bills through 421-2026. Do we have a motion?
>> I move to pay the bills. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Dr. >> Yes. >> Main. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Consent agenda. Consent agenda
resolutions resolution note. Consent agenda and consent agenda items are considered to be routine and will be enacted with a single motion. Any items requiring expenditures are supported by the certification of availability of funds. Any items requiring discussion
will be removed from the consent agenda. Do we have a motion? >> Make a motion for consent agenda items A through F. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Dr. >> Yes. >> Missy. >> Yes.
Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> We will now open the meeting for public comment. Please state your name and address for the record. Sir, >> good evening. My name is Ralph Hendrickson and I live at 37 Mayfair Circle, Westampton. I'd like to begin by
thank I've lived in the community for 11 years. I'd like to begin by thanking the police department in the EMTs. My wife and I through the years have had to call on them and they have been there quickly. They've been kind and they've been efficient. So kudos to them.
Secondly, about a week ago, I addressed a letter to the mayor and the council and to the administrator with two questions. Do we have any ordinances prohibiting heights from using warehouses as
detention centers? And secondly, do we bank with citizens bank? And I want to thank Sheriff Jones who got back to me again rather quickly. So I have am impressed with the quality of the get back and the services within the
community. My comments are this. Citizens Bank is the main financial arm for Core Civic and Geo Group, the two largest prison private prison concerns. In New Jersey alone, they have a contract for
Delaney Hall worth $1 billion. They also operate in Elizabeth and they are probably going to want to operate elsewhere. My concern is do we want to do business
with a company that treats human beings the way that these private prisons are. Right now in Moon Shannon in Pennsylvania, there is a hunger strike because of the quality of services. People would rather die starving than to
live under the conditions that they're living. There are instances of sexual abuse, child abuse, measles outbreaks, suicide, and all sorts of things. So, I would ask, do we want to do business with Citizens Bank? I don't think that
we do business with Citizens Bank. We make beneficial, don't we? >> We do. >> We do. Don't we didn't we bank beneficial at one point or >> I I don't know the lineage of what uh has become this but uh it is currently citizens bank.
>> Okay. So, I can I can only ask that you look at this matter with your heart and your head and hopefully make a decision that upholds the values that I hold and I think the rest of the community holds in terms of treating all human beings
respectfully and providing the service necessary. With respect to the other, do we have ordinances? The answer back to me was we state or federal uh prevails over local laws.
Nevertheless, our state has in March codified laws restricting what ICE can do in communities and communities throughout the state are moving to put either resolutions or ordinances in
place limiting what ICE or telling ICE what our local laws are. So again, I would appreciate if you would look into those and if it'd be possible to uh perhaps follow suit with what the state and other communities are doing here in
New Jersey. Thank you for your time. Can you just stay till the end? That's when we have our comments. Pardon? Can you just stay till the end? That's when we have our comments. Can you just make sure you stay till the end? That's when we have our comments. We are at the end now. Thank you, sir. Any other comments? Good evening, Gary Ber 138 Winstead. Uh
first off, uh good work on the budget. My only comment on that is it would really be helpful if we could see kind of a little bit about what you're talking about. So if you can illustrate that with the screen behind you, graphs, charts, metrics, etc. that really helps
us kind of grasp some of the uh information that you're sharing with the uh with the committee. >> If I could, Mayor, um every year uh since I've been here, which is uh one so far, a second one, um I do a public information session and it's in the uh was that a caucus room or uh so um so
that will be scheduled. Um so if you want to attend that, um I'll have a copy of the budget. Um I go through it page by page. A lot of people, you know, think it's a, you know, a smoke and mirrors type of situation. And I can assure you that if you were to sit down with me and members of the public are
open, probably within the first 20 minutes, uh, 30 minutes, your eyes will start to glaze over, I assure you, uh, that is not, uh, it's a very transparent budget. So, if I'm going to try to impress you with bar graphs and, you know, pie charts and all the other good stuff, I'd rather send it to you and
give you the information that you would like and have the opportunity to answer any questions that you have because if you're a dry sponge, we'll be happy to I will be happy to, you know, soak you with as much financial data uh that you'll never come back. How's that sound? I'm teasing. I appreciate it. I
mean, I just think um I think the more detail the better. Um, I just think from a high level perspective, even just one or two um, illustrations would be helpful. That's just something for you to think about. I think we've kind of talked a little bit about this before. It's really hard sometimes for us to
hear back here. Um, we don't have all of the the data that's in the packet that maybe you might be referring to. So, I I was trying to kind of look through it, but I didn't see it. So, that could be on me. I know it was a pretty thick packet this week. I do tend to look at it, but um, if I could just answer, I
take your time. uh this budget once we get a copy of it from the state probably early next week. It'll be posted on our website and uh the date for that public information session will be set and and certainly uh if there's anything I can do to help you and other residents to
educate you on the budget process. We're transparent. I have no dog in the sun. I appreciate that and thank you. And I like the you know uh Mayor I've mentioned this before. I mean I I think you know tax is kind of like our double-edged sword, right? Like oh you know nobody likes to pay taxes, right? I get it. I don't like to pay taxes, but
they're necessary. And I like the way that you often will frame this as an investment. And I think that's really important when you have these conversations with residents in the township. You have legitimately invested our tax dollars to make the township better. And the perfect example was when
public works had to come out with that equipment to move those pyramid mountains of snow. >> I mean, that saved a lot of people. uh you know and not only that but you do get new equipment and that that's our tax dollars at work. So I you know
people are going to grouse about it no matter what but I think if you kind of help frame the conversation people will understand it better and they're willing to make the investment from you know just understanding that this is an investment you know we're making the township better. Um
I I poor Sherid I I had sent Sherad an email. Um, this isn't about I think that we're paying him. >> If he was voluntary his time, then it'd be portion ride, but I think he's getting >> Well, he's he's usually very responsive and I get back to him and I'll often
kind of give him an out that he doesn't have to get back to me only that he just shares the information. I don't know if he did or not, but it's regarding the the county recycling. I get it. It's the county recycling. The issue that I'm having is that um and I've said this
before is that the uh the recycling cans when they don't have a lid attached. >> Yeah. >> You want to talk about modern art sculptures? I mean, they'll put any museum to shame >> when you drive through some of the, you know, the streets. I mean, we're talking every different shape imaginable that
could be piled into that without a lid is what you're looking at. Now, of course, the problem becomes um when it's tipped over the wind, etc. And look, I try to be a good neighbor. I try to pick up adjacent to my property. I'm just tired of it now.
>> And so, here's what I I'm I'm kind of saying. Can we get together with the county and say, "Look, it it's it's time to say to the to the township resident, I get it. It's $60 for that lid. I totally understand that. But if they're unable or unwilling to do it, then maybe
we should fund it. Put the lid on there and then bill them. >> But can't we can just get another can, right? >> This the blue recycling. >> The blue recycling can. You can get that from the county, I think. Ray, don't we have some here? >> We have this place for
$60. >> Oh, okay. I think there's a little bit of confusion about that. I think on the site it says it's $60 for the replacement lid. Um, okay. Well, I mean, >> the issue is like, uh, I think it's just
one guy in the truck, the county truck that does the recycling, right? But maybe can he just sort of help us and say, "Hey, these are the 15, 16, 17 cans that I spotted this week that need replacement." Because otherwise it I mean >> I mean but still Gary like fairly I mean
residents got to take the step. >> I get it. >> And we and our neighbors right I'm not putting it on you. I'm putting it on myself too right because I haven't checked but even the neighborly part is us saying to my my neighbor if she's got a l problem like you know >> they do that for free. Want me to put
you on the list? >> Well maybe we can just maybe I could just sort of you know secretly do it. Don't don't put this on the camera. Uh, I'll I'll secretly run around and just and put him on the list. I mean, it's it's just I mean, not that I'm giving you a job to I get it. I'm just saying
I'm tired of it. Um, okay. So, that's enough on that. Um, I appreciate the street sweeper. I've spoken about this before. I really wish we would put a can we think about like just even like a sandwich board or the portable sign saying street sweeping tomorrow or 2
days from now just because in our my development it's one side of the street parking and people don't move their car so the street sweeper kind of has to go around so it really impedes the efficiency of the operation of that piece of equipment. So >> we add that to our website and add that to our Facebook page. I don't think
that's hard to do. I I mean that would be helpful, but if people aren't going to look at that or whatever, the sign would be great. Even a cheap $2 sandwich board sign >> or maybe next year we can put it on our on our trusty calendars that go out. >> That could be good. Um if if that's going to be a specific day each calendar
month. The other thing we got to talk to Ray and see if that makes sense. I can't speak. But I'm just saying as a flying, you know, as an idea, we can add that to the counter. I mean, is we got a lot of colors. We can add I'm sure we can find more color. Well, >> on that point, mayor, maybe we can talk >> I don't even know what that is.
>> Yeah, maybe we can talk with PSEG and see if we can appropriate some of the lighting and see if they're willing to put up some different colored LEDs because Gary, you got 3 minutes. >> Hey, politics is the art of the possible,
right? Art of the possible. I'm just saying talk to PSNG, see if we can get some LEDs up on the already existing street lights and we could color code them and say, "Hey, if you see a green light, then you know tomorrow is recycling day or a yellow light at >> that's we just sent a spaceship around
the moon." >> I mean, the camera told you we can't put a light on an oil that light color. >> All right. I pride on on um I'll work on the grass. And then um the the other thing real
quick is again like uh with the uh when people are doing and I know public works does some of this is the brush collection. So when you're adjacent to a county road, right? So people will collect debris or maybe they'll put brush. So it's it's now brush is now
kind of sitting on on Springside, right? So that's a county road. So the the the question becomes, well, who collects the brush? Right. Right. >> Is that in the budget, Mr. Director?
>> Okay. We we're friendly neighbors with the county. >> Sorry. I'm just mentioning it. That's all. And then um uh I remember years ago um Marian Clark used to sometimes she would come in and bring like a bounty of
these gypsy Marian Marian carp. >> She would get these she would bring in these uh signs that people would just bang into the different corners in the township. The gypsy signs I call them. You know, uh there's a ordinance that says you can't do that, right? You can't just put signs any old place you want in
the township. So she used to pull them up and bring them in. I've seen a proliferation of these signs. I get it. People have to advertise for their business, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Um, all I'm saying is that I see a lot of these signs. Okay. Number one,
and number two is that, and I know um, deputy mayor was looking at is the home improvement contractor act, right? Remember we were talking about that? I'm seeing a lot of these home improvement companies with the signs. It was our signs in violation of the act and that's
an issue that we do need to have a conversation about honestly. So I've said it before whether we caucus with the county prosecutor figure out what they want to do with something like that. If they don't want to handle it kick it back down to our prosecutor we need to talk to the municipal prosecutor and see what we want to do about that.
But that's an issue. Uh thanks guys. Thank you Garrett. With no other comment, we will now close. All in favor? >> Dates to remember. Next historic commission, April 22nd at 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Committee meeting May 5th at 7:00 p.m. Land Development Board meeting May 6th at 7 p.m. Recreation Commiss Recreation Committee meeting May 13th at 7 p.m. Now committee liaison reports and comments.
Um, just for the record, his um the historic com commission committee is not meeting in April. We didn't have any applications. Um, we did not meet in March either. And I just want to thank the residents for coming out and bringing uh these concerns to our
attention. Um, thank you for your presentation on the budget. And that's all of my comments. Okay. Um, good evening everyone. Um, I echo everything that committee just said. Thank you to the residents. Thank you to our CFO for the budget
presentation. Um I'll send you an email just to find out when the session is so that I can attend and share the information with others if possible. Um and just a friendly reminder that Saturday um April 25th from 11 to 1, we have our senior bingo event at West Hampton Middle School. That's all I have. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening and thank everyone uh who's in attendance um as well as the submission of all of the reports, budget submission. Thank you guys so much for that. Uh, thank you residents for coming out to uh voice your concerns, Ralph,
Gary, and everyone that's in attendance. We really appreciate that. Um, there's so many different things that we have as goals in terms of uh making West Hampton a town that people want to live in. And
trust me, we we uh try each and every day to do what we can to make improvements within this town. And with our police and fire and EMT and public works and all of our departments, we are one unit working uh hand in hand to be
able to make it a desired place and we appreciate all of your concerns and your your uh your words. Um looking forward to the bingo this Saturday. Uh Dr. Cwell will be there to help out. Um and um you
guys, thank you for coming again. Thank you everyone for coming. Uh Mr. Henderson, thank you for your comments. It's clear you hold this issue dear to your heart. Um I'm not too wellversed on on the inner workings of the privateier
prisons. Doesn't sound great to me, but it's the way of our world right now. Not saying it's right, but I do appreciate that and uh we'll look into that. Uh Gary, as always, thank you for the comments. Um, and big up to Ray.
You know, they're doing brush collection this couple weeks and there was some after hours complaints and Rey came out after hours by himself and made sure some of those issues were taken care of. So, thank you, Sh. I appreciate that very much. Uh, Chief Swarnsworth,
awesome annual report. You really highlighted all the great things your your department did over the year. So, good job, sir. We're proud to have you here in West Hampton and thank you for being a leader here. So that's all I have sir.
>> All right. Um, two things, sir. One, it might not happen right away. So if you know if we're able to change banks, it's not something that will happen in 2 weeks or 2 months, right? Like it's so, but it's something that
we're we're going to look at. And I can honestly tell you, you're not the first person to bring this up. So, it's something that has been discussed like briefly like what kind of fits for our township and what business that it does. So, I can tell you that I just know I didn't want you to think that if it
doesn't happen in 2026, it doesn't mean we're not doing it. It just means that we're doing it the right way. Um Gary, I think that I appreciate your comments about the budget. I think it's it's just as important that we're responsible. Um,
we have to also we have to be responsible for the residents knowing that we're not the only part of the tax bill, right? Um, you know, last year, not to kill the schools, right? But the schools rose taxes significantly, which
impacted our residents a lot, right? So, the last thing we wanted to do was double down on that, right? So we we hadn't had to we didn't have to cut anything. But I think that it is our job to be responsible to know that they had a large tax increase last year and you chase good people out sometimes when you
do that. So we want to make sure we keep our community intact that we're responsible and that we're aware of the surrounding not just with us but with the county and the schools because they have some different expenses they have to do. So, um, and obviously, you know, the people are complaining about the the
the just the prices of everything that's around. And, you know, it's been a while since I had young kids, but I remember having young kids and having everything that's entailed with that. So, we just try to make sure that we're we're continuing to to provide programs to our rec department to to help our kids, but
we also got to help their parents to be able to provide for those kids. Fair enough. >> With that being said, do we have a motion to adjourn? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All right. Okay, we're on our way. We're going in to close. So, uh, we'll do official adjourment after that. All in favor? >> I
>> have a good night. Good night.