Mhm. >> I would like to notice that all of this meeting is required by the Open Public Meetings Act which provided the first day of mailing and filing of the annual notice of a regularly scheduled meeting. On September 10th, 2025. The notice was on that date on the bulletin board of the municipal building provided to the Western Wayne
News and the Star-Ledger and filed with the clerk of the Town of West Caldwell on this Township. May I have a roll call, please? >> Mayor Berman? >> Here. >> Council member Gilman? >> Here. >> Councilman Gallop? >> Here. >> Councilman Kiefer? Saunders? >> Here. >> Here. >> Armento? >> Here. >> Ficetola-Raman?
>> Here. >> Please >> 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.
>> Good. You may have a seat. Thank you everyone who joined us tonight. We appreciate your personal and for the truth and for the right. channels. As always, the replay of the meeting will be available on Facebook, YouTube, and TV 36. Public comment will be accepted in person only.
Remarks before we begin our legislative agenda. place. At our last Town Council meeting, provided an update on our ongoing communication with Saks Global and their imminent exit from Banksville. Now that the two have officially merged
as a newly formed entity, we are announcing a definitive shift in the direction of the One Westmed Place redevelopment plans. The owners of the former Lord & Taylor properties have made it clear that their intention is to sell those properties, which include the former Lord & Taylor building itself, and the
two parcels across the street on North Avenue. They expect to begin marketing the site as early as next week, and as soon as they do so in this district, and we understand there are already significant interest from several local experienced developers. Given the new realities of the
Banksville shootings and the upcoming sale of the properties, One Westmed Place will not be moving forward in its current form. I have indicated to the current property owners, and I will reinforce this to any buyer, that the only acceptable path forward
for this administration is the redevelopment of the privately owned Lord & Taylor properties and the related public improvements to that property, which is the reimagining of the North Side Plaza, as well as important safety and traffic
improvements at the three intersections of North Avenue and Elm, Broad, and Forest. The North and South Avenue municipal parking lots have and will remain under town ownership. There is no interest from this Town
Council in pursuing the sale or development of this land. It is also important to reiterate that although the Lord & Taylor property is privately owned, the existing redevelopment plan gives the town an important role in shaping what ultimately moves forward.
As a site that is zoned for commercial and residential use, as a new private partner emerges from the sales process, we will maintain rigorous oversight and ensure that any future proposal reflects current market conditions while delivering a project
that serves West Milford's long-term interests. We will continue to keep you informed as significant developments occur. Moving on to the final street sign auction. So, get ready to place your bids for our second final auction.
As you will recall, in 2025, the town held an online auction for many of the street signs that were replaced by our DPW. The second final auction will include the following signs. Signs that are on county roads, signs that remained unsold in the first auction,
and all remaining signs were previously not included due to the auction limit of $1,000. Bidding will begin at 5:00 on Wednesday, July 15th. Full information is on the homepage of the town's website. Uh e-bike safety, moving on. It has
continued to be an important concern, especially with increased ridership in the summer months. As a reminder, these updated state regulations for e-bikes take effect on July 19th, which is next week. Riders must be at least 15 years old.
E-bikes must be registered with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. And lastly, riders must wear helmets and follow all applicable traffic laws. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is offering appointments for licenses and registrations to operate e-bikes on their website, along with specific
requirements and detailed instructions. In addition, the West Milford Police Department will continue their efforts to educate riders and enforce the requirements to help keep our roads and our sidewalks and pedestrians safe. So, for today's legislative agenda, we
have a fairly brief one, with the key items being resolutions to award contracts for the exciting improvements to the synthetic athletic fields, following last month's unanimous votes to approve related funding. Upon approval of these resolutions, we can finalize the construction time
frames for this summer in order to minimize the impact on the fall athletic and school schedules. The first phase of this project will be the installation of the two replacement synthetic turf fields, which is expected to begin on or about July 20th, with an anticipated
completion by the end of August. During this time, the Recreation Department will work with all of our town athletic leagues to relocate any scheduled field time to alternate locations. The second phase will be the parking lot expansion and construction of the restrooms and storage facility.
During this phase, the fields are not expected to be available during the active construction hours. We also anticipate that the parking lot will be closed for this phase, which means that participants must access the fields through the gates along East Levering Mill Road. We are in the process of finalizing alternative
temporary parking arrangements, and we'll communicate those details as we approach that time frame. While this project will create some short-term inconvenience, we are very enthusiastic about the end result, a modern, upgraded recreational complex with improved parking and safety
measures that will better serve the Westwood community for years to come. Um and so now, before we begin with the actual agenda and voting, um I'd like the town administrator to provide some updates on storm debris pickup, uh uh road paving, and then our MS4 watershed
improvements. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh two quick updates. Uh paving uh the council awarded the paving contract last meeting, uh and uh expected next week. Uh the expected next week.
Uh, the ADA compliant work and concrete work for all the roads that are on our roads list for the year will begin. Uh, our engineer Uh, We expect that to take about 2 weeks. Uh, and then when that's finished, the milling and paving operations for all the roads there remember there are 40
roads or sections of road that the town will be uh, addressing this year all throughout town. Uh, and basically um, that will be expected to begin the milling and paving portion at on August 3rd. We have about 10 of the 40 roads on the list uh, that
basically um, are either adjacent to or close to schools. So they'll be first on the list to be done so before school opens and then the rest will follow. Um, and if there's any indication the contractor we've hired uh, through the bidding process has been very helpful to us over the years and
usually weather permitting works very quickly so we expect to get a lot of this done uh, well before the end of August. Uh, so that'll be starting and again just lastly if you haven't subscribed to Nixle please do. We'll be giving out road alerts as as uh, as as necessary. Uh, other thing about organic storm debris. Uh, so we had our
uh, mostly storm that knocked a lot of power out and had a lot of tree limbs down on July 3rd and July 4th. Uh, we uh, authorized a organic storm debris pick up uh, which started this past Monday on July 6th. Um, more debris out there than we expected so it's taking a
little longer but we as of the end of business today for public works we are in zone five on the north side which is the last zone on the north side. We're following the leaf collection zones. And on the now on the south side we are in zone nine out of the 10 zones. Uh, we expect to finish that this week.
Um, we we are waiting to see if the county was going to address their roads within Westfield. We don't believe they're going to so as soon as we finish uh, the zone pick up uh, for town roads we will go to the county roads and pick up county debris organic debris on county roads from homes uh, that are in
Westfield. So, a little longer to take, but again, thank you for the to the residents for complying and patience as we go forward there. So, those are the two updates, Mayor. As you mentioned, we do tonight have a public comment period about our
MS4 watershed inventory report. So, let me just read a little comment. This is our second public hearing tonight. And so, Westfield, like all municipalities in New Jersey, are permitted to manage and treat municipal storm water under the NJDEP which is known as the municipal separate
storm water system MS4. Municipal permits including but not limited to storm water design, collection, treatment infrastructure, and maintenance activities as required by its permit. To meet these permit obligations, Westfield and all municipalities in the state were required to prepare and file
an MS4 watershed inventory report to the NJDEP which we did. That was done by January of this year. That report is on been on our website since that time and can be viewed there. The current draft report will be modified to include additional storm
water infrastructure data which is currently being completed by town staff and as well as a third-party consultant. And then those comments and input will be sent to the DEP after that happens. So, we are required to conduct two public hearings.
Tonight will be a second one. This is where we have public comment tonight. We hope about this and get more information which will be used to help formulate our report. Which is the final report is due at the end of 2027. So, this first part is really water quality related and in gathering
information. All of 2027 will be spent with the engineering staff and the consultants looking at flash flooding areas, flood mitigation efforts, and doing analysis of areas, cost estimates, etc. to be included in our plan at the end of 2027 for
implementation of some or all areas after that as well. Uh, so again, uh, we have phase one report was done, phase two report is due by January 2027, and the phase three watershed report is due by December 31st, 2027.
So, what I'd like to do, Mayor, is as part of this requirement, uh, see if anyone in the public here, physically here, would like to add any comments at the microphone here to the council. Uh, and then we would take that information, uh, and our engineers here to hear directly as well, and then that would be
part of the this public hearing. So, I'll open it up to the public now. If anyone in the public wants to come up and give information about the MS4 plan or any information or experiences they've had in their neighborhoods, like to hear that at this point. >> That's great. >> Great. >> So, again, the camera apparently cannot hear
me. >> No. >> Sorry. >> We didn't give you a mic. >> So, >> Here you go. >> How about now? What? That was quite loud. Okay, so we'll we'll do public comment and then I I think should I read my remarks uh, again?
>> You can do that for me. >> Okay. So, public comment on the watershed. >> Good evening, uh, Mayor and Council. My name is Rob Lombard. I live at 267 Seneca Place in Westfield. I'm [clears throat] here tonight along with my neighbors from Forest Avenue and Seneca Place
to ask you to take affirmative action beyond the mandates of the MS4 system requirements to address the persistent flooding that we've experienced at Forest Avenue and Seneca Place. We're aware that the public hearing this
evening only pertains to phase one of the MS4 process and that second and third phases will be ongoing through the next year. What I'm here is to ask you to make sure
that we start the process of actually addressing the flooding locations that are within the township uh so that we are ready to go uh as that process concludes. The [clears throat] storm that affected
us last July, I think many of you were personally aware of. I've talked to a number of council members about what happened. Um for those of you who may not be familiar uh there were at least six vehicles that were stranded in the intersection.
There was a a fast water rescue done by our [clears throat] emergency service personnel to rescue two people from cars uh that were trapped at the intersection. At the intersection, uh also serves 130 apartments at the end
of Forest Avenue and the only way in or out for any emergency vehicles is through this intersection. So, it is important not just for the personnel that need to get back and forth uh through the town, but certainly for
any of the residents that live within the apartments. For those of us who have lived on Seneca or Forest for the last 40 years, uh this is not a new event that happened last year. Uh over my 43 years of living here,
uh we've experienced floods probably on the scale of one every 10 years. However, in the past 5 years, we've experienced three floods and none with the conditions that we experienced last July.
And I think the frequency and the intensity of these storms merits the serious consideration of the council and the resources of the town to do what it can to mitigate
this problem. I do also want to stress that most of this flooding has come from not hurricanes, not nor'easters, but just from thunderstorms. And that's what is frightening all of us
as we had the same threats this past week that we did experience last July. So, there's no telling when this next storm is going to cause the same conditions that we had last July. Um
one thing that I do know is that in the capital ordinance the town adopted this year it did include provisions along with the street paving to make improvements in storm water system. So, I'm hoping that that is also an indication that the council is willing,
is ready to start spending some of our capital resources on this effort. Uh I certainly want to commend Jim Gilday and and the town for the paving work that has been done in the last 20 years and
that this is essentially the last year needed to pave every street in the town which is a remarkable achievement. And I'm also hoping that that some of that money can now be made available for these other purposes.
Um the one thing that is unique to me about the Seneca flooding, unlike the other 10 locations that I think were reported last year in July that were also experiencing significant flooding, is that I've been
asking the town to look at the fact that the storm water system that is downstream from that intersection has pipe sections that are smaller in diameter than the pipes that come into the
intersection. So, we're actually have 33-in pipes that come in from the apartment complex to the intersection. We have four intersections that collect 16 acres of flood water that goes out on a 33-in
diameter storm sewer, and when it goes two blocks down, it goes into a 30-in diameter pipe. So, it's simple common sense to say that that's not right. That's not how storm
sewers should be designed. And so, I'm hopeful that we already have a reason and a cause to highlight that we just need to replace pipe. And we might solve the problems that my
neighbors and I have been experiencing. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Woman. >> My name is Jacqueline Mygatt. I live at 268 Seneca Place. Been there almost 50 years in the same house. My husband, Tom, is also here tonight.
We're here to urge you to not wait 15 months for the assessment and the resolution. We need an immediate We need immediate attention to this matter. We have had personal damage to our cars and the our property because of this
enormous flooding. The water level rises so so that cars cannot get through and are left abandoned in the intersection. One car was sort of floating near the apartment's entrance, a part of
Forest Avenue. That's how deep it is. Last The last flooding we had, five cars, six cars abandoned, and one car where an elderly gentleman was stranded in his car because his brakes failed. As you know, the water floods the car, the
brakes failed, and the engine seized. He had to be rescued by the fire department. They came with a boat. That's how deep it was, and they waded through and took him out. Lastly, and I know this is repeating something Rob said, but please keep in
mind that at 800 Forest Avenue, we have several unit apartment building back in Forest Avenue at 800, where that intersection is the only way they can go in and out. Uh so, the cars are abandoned blocking it, but also consider the fact if there was
an emergency, such as a medical emergency perhaps, or a wire down over in the apartment complex, there'd be no way to get an an emergency vehicle through there or even a repair vehicle for the elec- for the electrical line. We implore you to take up the matter
immediately. Uh I thank you for listening, and I also want to offer a video that I have of the fire department rescue of that elderly gentleman. Should you would Should you request it, I'd be happy to provide that. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> Hello council, mayor. Thank you for having us tonight. My name is Matt Myers. I live at 277 Seneca Place, directly on the corner of Seneca and Forest. I've been here now for 6 years in total, and in those 6 years I've
experienced three floods, two of which were I personally lost vehicles. My neighbor here, Rajiv, has also lost a vehicle. A neighbor that's not here today lost his own vehicle. My children are honestly scarred from this experience.
They've watched out the window as neighbors and other cars were being rescued in the middle of the intersection because of the flooding. Anytime that it rains now, my children ask me, "Are you going to move the cars, Daddy? We don't want to lose the cars." So, it's just really stressful to
continue to worry every time there's a storm that property is going to be damaged, I'm going to lose vehicles, that I'm going to have to take a work off of week to then just go through my entire house to get rid of carpeting, to get rid of everything in the basement, and I know
all my neighbors are experiencing similar feelings and sentiment, and it's just really difficult to continue to do the same thing over and over again when there is a good fix available to help enlarge the piping to ensure that the storm sewage does not get backed up anymore.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ross. >> Good evening, Mayor, Councilman. I'm Rajiv Sethumadhavan. I live at 740 Forest Avenue. You know, I my house neighbors, both, you know, Rob and Matt. And without being repetitive, you know, I'd like to emphasize the same problems. I've been here 5 years,
and in 5 years I've seen three intense storms. It's almost like an every, you know, every alternate year we have the event, and the intensity keeps going up. In terms of damage, I've lost vehicles, I've had to go through two basement remediations, you know, and financial cost aside, and going through the
insurance claim aside, it's just the the toll it takes, you know, in you know, going through the process, you know, you worry about mold, you worry about, you know, things that you have in the basement, you worry about should I furnish my basement again because it's going to be a repeat. You make sure you have, you know, a sump pump that works and you
have a backup and maybe another backup for that. So, all of these investments, you know, if it goes towards go to goes to fruition and you know that this is once and done, you know, you put an investment you move on from that. But this seems to be a repetitive event. And last year at the Indian City was I think, you know,
I can't even emphasize it. Uh we had a car that floated and got onto our lawn. Uh and to the extent that then they had to be, you know, bailed out. They were elderly people. Um so, my request again is uh I did speak with, you know, I think Todd and Reshma last year as well. And thank you for the efforts where we
have some additional catch basins I think installed now, which is a good, you know, you know, you know, first step already. But um I urge you all to look into, you know, the the research and the findings that Rob has already shared that if that stretch of pipe is the root cause and can, you know,
solely eliminate this issue, you know, I don't think we need to wait 18 months for that to happen. So, you know, thank you for your time and I'm hoping to hear from you. >> Thank you. >> Uh good evening, everybody. My name is Kirk Fleming. I live at 272 Seneca Place. I I really don't have anything to
add as far as details go in addition to what my neighbors have already said. So, I just want to be on the record that I did come down here to speak. My wife and I both came down because we think this is important. And uh we hope you can do something.
>> Thank you. Okay. Seeing no others, we are going to start our agenda. Uh if you want to sit around for the agenda, or if any may want to leave, there's no pressure to say. I think I should uh repeat my remarks or yes. >> Can I just add one thing? I just just want to thank those who came out. This
is I happen to live uh not more than block away from everybody here who's here. Uh so I know this intersection very well and this is exactly the kind of input that we're looking for and uh as I mentioned to Mr. Fleming today in uh his email to the council um that we need to hear this
information, but also this area is already one of the areas that is uh identified among many others in Westfield as well uh that need to have uh further analysis and of course we hear the comments very loud and clear about not waiting if we can do that. So, I just want to thank everybody for coming out. We appreciate it. So, thank
you, Mayor. >> Okay. Uh I think because um all my comments will be out on the social media later this evening uh and on the town website, uh I'm not going to go through them. We'll just start our agenda for this evening.
So, uh may I please have a motion to approve the minutes from the town council conference, executive, and regular meetings of June 23rd, 2026. Councilman uh Atwood, Councilwoman Atwood second. Councilman Donahue, any discussion?
All in favor? >> Yes. >> Opposed? The motion is carried. It is now time for open session of the body of citizens. Anyone may come to the microphone and speak to the council on any subject on which the council has jurisdiction. Please state your name and address for the record when you make
your comments in 5 minutes. Seeing none, I close this portion of the meeting and move to the bills. Claims, Councilman Kinchlow. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to move closing claims in the amount of $1,001,007.07. >> May I have a second?
>> Second. >> I think I did this. >> Oh, uh Councilwoman Kinchlow with the second. >> Yeah. >> Councilman Goin. Uh any discussion? All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. Opposed?
The motion is carried. Next on the agenda is reports of standing committees, beginning with the Finance Policy Committee, Councilman Metcalfe. >> Thank you, Mayor. I have 12 resolutions that I would like to do as a package. One resolution authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to refund recreation
department fees. Two resolution resolution authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to refund dumpster security payment. Three resolution authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant for underground parking permit fee. Four resolution authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant for dog licenses for June 2026. Five
resolution authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant to Treasurer, City of New Jersey, for marriage civil union licenses fees. Six resolution authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant to Treasurer, City of New Jersey, for burial permit fee. Seven resolution
authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant for Board of Adjustment escrow monies. Eight resolution authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant to refund street opening cash bond. Nine resolution authorizing award of contract for improvements at Will-Hubbard and City Field Complex.
10 resolution authorizing award of contract for baseball fields at Will-Hubbard and City Field Complex. 11 resolution authorizing participation in direct install program for HVAC equipment. And 12 resolution to approve the insertion of special item of
revenue, recycling tonnage grant. >> May I have a second? >> Councilman Armenti, any discussion? All in favor? >> Yes. >> Opposed? The motion is carried. Councilwoman Gilman, please move ahead with the Public Safety Transportation.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I would like to move a resolution authorizing an award of contract for the purchase of security equipment for the West Orange Police Department. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilman Son, all in favor? >> Yes. >> Opposed? The motion is carried.
>> I would also like to move general ordinance number 2026-14 on reading an ordinance to amend the code of the town of Westfield chapter 13. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilwoman Galant, any discussion?
Please call the roll. >> Councilwoman Gallant? >> Yes. >> Councilman Galola? >> Yes. >> Councilman Becker? >> Yes. >> Councilman Saunders? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Adwar? >> Yes. >> Councilman Armento? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Brindle? >> Yes. >> Mayor Brindle? >> Yes. This motion has been carried. Councilman Becker, please move the cover
of your resolutions. >> Thank you, Mayor. I have two resolutions I would like to move as a package. One resolution authorizing renewal agreement with Copperwaite Square Condominium Association. Two resolutions to approve annual renewal of alcoholic beverage liquor licenses. >> May I have a second? >> Second.
>> Councilman Becker, Councilman Armento, any discussion? All in favor? >> Yes. >> Opposed? The motion has been carried. >> I would also like to move general ordinance 2026-15 on first reading, an ordinance removing the designation of King Street Park from the town of Westfield tax map as lot
4209, lot 7 as a historic landmark, and modifying the zoning map to reflect such redesignations. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilman Saunders, any discussion? Please call the roll. >> Councilwoman Gallant? >> Yes. >> Councilman Galola? >> Yes. >> Councilman Becker? >> Yes.
>> Councilman Saunders? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Adwar? >> Yes. >> Councilman Armento? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Brindle? >> Yes. >> Mayor Brindle? >> Yes. The motion has been carried. May I have a motion to adjourn? Councilwoman Adwar, second? >> Second. >> Councilman Becker,
any discussion? All