matter e e e [Applause] do [Applause] [Music] SP wait for stuff no adjourned yes um good evening everybody adequate notice of this meeting as required by the open public meetings Act was provided through the posting mailing and filing of the annual notice of regular scheduled meetings of the Town Council on December 12th 2023 the notice was on that date posted on the bulletin board of the municipal building provided to the Westfield leader of the Star Ledger and filed with the clerk of the town of Westfield Miss Ling I have a roll call Mayor brindle here council members H good here Daria here dagala here keeper here Saunders here Aro here contract please rise for the invocation as we given to council and ha good and remain standing for the salute as we convene this meeting this evening let us draw upon the values of inclusivity and understanding that Divine that Define our community regardless of our individual faiths or philosophies let us unite in our dedication to fing a safe prosperous and Equitable environment for all who call this town home May our discussions be marked by Civility and our decisions Guided by compassion together let us strive to build a future that reflects the best aspirations of our shared Humanity IED Al to the flag the United States of America and to the Republic it stands one nation under God indivisible with li Justice for All Jim just have two quick comments mayor um just reminder to the public or those that have joined the pool Memorial Pool UPS up on Saturday um it's its third soldout season with a waiting list uh since the covid years which is still an amazing feat um after coming out of that um for everybody um so Saturday opens up I want to thank the recreation staff Megan schaer Laur and Conrad particular the whole staff there for doing a lot of work so so far and a lot more work between now and Saturday morning so um but again Memorial pullup is up Saturday other thing I know you'll mention it mayor briefly but um this want to uh highlight um just thanking the police and fire departments today uh and and um public works department for installing the four-way stop at uh Clark and Dudley um these seem like simple things but they actually really are not um and between Public Works today uh Rose division tree division um and of course the police being out there doing a phenomenal job of making sure it's safe obvious with the signage and being present out there today uh as for its first day was is is a big deal so I just want to thank those departments for putting the effort in today and this is what what what it takes to do something uh the right way so just want to thank their departments thanks great thank you Jim um before I get into my remarks we have a proclamation tonight and it is to uh recognize um the 10th Annual uh National Gun Violence awareness day and I'd like to thank the council we all got the memo um we orange and I'm going to get and I want to thank VA Lin who brought this to our attention and her groups if you guys want to come up and I'll read this I also want to thank this Council and quite frankly all the other previous councils um when I was elected as mayor one of the very first things I did was sign on to uh Mayors against illegal guns and and um was incredibly proud of that and also proud that we had the support of every Council since then um for this Proclamation which is unfortunately becoming increasingly important in our time so whereas every day more than 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded with an average of more than 177,000 gun homicides every year and whereas Americans are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high income countries and whereas New Jersey has 427 gun deaths every year with a rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people a crisis that costs the state 5.3 billion each year of which 169 million is paid by taxpayers New Jersey has the fifth lowest rate of gun deaths in the US and whereas cities in small towns Across the Nation including Westfield are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based Solutions and whereas support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand in hand with keeping guns away from people with dangerous histories and whereas protecting Public Safety in our communities is our highest responsibility and our law enforcement officers in partnership with local violence intervention activists and resources know their communities best are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it and are best position to understand how to keep our citizens safe and whereas gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see an increase in firearm homicide and non-fatal shootings across the country increased calls to domestic violence hotlines and an increase in City gun violence and whereas in January 2013 hiah Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15 and on June 2nd 2023 to recognize her 6 birthday people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence awareness day and wear orange in tribute to hadia Pendleton other victims of gum violence and the loved ones of those victims and whereas the idea was inspired by a group of Pia's friends who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing orange they chose this color because Hunters wear orange to announced themselves to other Hunters when out in the woods and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of of human life and whereas anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 7th the first Friday in June in 2024 to help raise awareness about gun violence and by wearing orange Americans will raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors and whereas we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep Firearms out of the hands of people who should not have access to them and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our families and communities safe now therefore I mayor Shelley brindle along with the members of the Town Council declares June 7th 2024 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the town of Westfield and in doing so encourage all citizens to support efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives thank you very much you want to say um thank thank you very much mayor brindel council members uh for providing this Proclamation for National Gun Violence awareness day I just wanted to invite the community out um Mom's demand action the organization that we represent which is supporting this um have two events on Saturday June 1st at 8:30 a.m. in planfield we're having a March from the Arts Center um to the city hall and then on June 7th at 5m in Summit we're having a rally um at the Green in Summit across from the train station all members of the Westville Community are welcome and we'd love to have you join and then at the very least uh on June 7th we're orange to support the cause thank you very much thank you here get a picture [Applause] and ladies you don't have to stay don't we won't be insulted I also do want to thank um chief balora who's also been very supportive of um of many of these gun violence prevention uh uh effort so thank you too for that so with that um just a few uh updates and comments uh to follow up on what Jim had said uh I do want to thank uh all the members of the community and the councilman dagal and armento and David kefir who came to the fire Bell service yesterday um and really who joined us for yesterday's service to honor the members of the Ser arum Services who gave their lives defending our freedom um it was great we got to acknowledge Vietnam veteran and Grand Marshall Jack Ford and to hear from Colonel Mary Joe Rice Mahoney who heroically served as a wartime nurse and multiple conflicts including the Vietnam War and even though we did not have a parade unfortunately I do want to thank uh Joe mindak who was instrumental in getting all the pieces in place and Keith Gibbons who helped organize yesterday's Service uh I do want to let everybody know that in honor of Memorial Day the Westfield veterans Banner program is now displaying the latest round of banners to recognize our our veterans and active duty military personnel they'll be displayed through Veterans Day in Partnership between the town and the Westfield veterans fund which is a 501c3 organization and we are accepting applications for next year's 50 banners which can be submitted um submitted through March on our website um so I hope you all consider nominating someone to be there to be on the banners um as Jim mentioned uh we there's the new always stop installation at Clark and Dudley um following the adoption of the ordinance early this month by this Council um as noted it is being taken in the at the recommendation of the public safety Transportation parking committee and followed God bless you um followed by requests made by residents as well as subsequent traffic warant analysis that determined the intersection would um met the threshold for the all way stop um also if you go there as Jim mentioned you'll notice that the line of sight conditions on Clark they they got rid of a lot of low hanging tree limbs were cut Stop Bar stop Bars were moved up to allow vehicles to stop closer to the intersection so new striping is in place there's no 50 ft parking within the stop sign so as he mentioned well it might seem as seem as simple stop sign installation it's a much more complex and coordinated effort than what may seem so um also upcoming events uh we are looking forward to celebrating juneth with the community at bethl Baptist Church on Saturday June 15th from 11 to4 um it's bigger and better this year with food fun and fellowship for the family um as we come out celebrate this important holiday commemorating the end of slavery uh and it's a collaboration of many different organizations including the Martin Luther King Jr Association the bethl Baptist Church Westfield neighborhood Council Westfield Community Center Holy Trinity Church and St Luke Zion Church all of whom will'll be partnering with the town I also want to invite everybody always a fun event on Thursday June 13th to celebrate pride month um we begin the festivities right outside at 5:30 by raising the pride flag here at Town Hall a tradition that was started in 2019 and then we follow a very fun walk to the rainbow crosswalks at quinby and Elm and where there'll be music and refreshments um it is a really fun joyous event it also not only celebrates inclusivity but also what's really joyous to see how many uh the increasing number of students who participate so I hope everybody will consider being there um I also just on the dwc front uh I do want to thank everyone seem everyone knows Burham ra I never say his last name correctly reage say reaj owner of out of hound Pizza as you know he is a well-known Community volunteer but he had to resign from the dwc board from some personal conflicts but he has served in a significant capacity over the past three years so I just want to publicly um thank Burham for his service service to the community really grateful for um his dedication to our downtown and so with the arrival of warm weather you'll see hopefully you've seen downtown is hopping um it's a very busy time of the year and I'm going to let Council one hap good who is the leaz on to the downtown westfi Corporation just give a few updates on what's coming up thank you mayor um I know we're all looking forward to the return of sweet sounds which will kick off on July 2nd and then will be held every Tuesday evening through the end of August I believe beginning at 6: and running until 9: um once again we'll close quinby to all vehicles on Tuesday nights for this very popular Summer Event and the dwc will be sharing the weekly lineup of bands and additional details so start following them on Instagram or check out the um Westfield today.com webbsite spring into fitness is a new um event that the dwc is sponsoring this year it's also um happening now until the end of June every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. featuring a new um Fitness class a new fitness organization in town takes the lead and a variety of local businesses each week and that's happening in Foundation Park this Saturday it'll be Superfly um a new business on Quimby um so come on Saturday morning um and check out their uh and check out the rest of the full schedule on the dwc website so that's 10: a.m. on Saturday mornings um I'm also pleased to report that in our conference session this evening the council approved the first ever cornhole tournament which also um will be held in Foundation Park um it the the dwc is going to be hosting it and it's going to happen on Saturday June 29th watch out for more details in the coming days and I also wanted to mention mayor thank you for reminding the community about the pride uh flag raising and the March we're trying to dream up some more activities for the end of the march at the rainbow crosswalk so stay tuned for more information on that too and fingers crossed for good weather yes um so regarding tonight's agenda on the legislative front we have several important items a few of which I just want to highlight we will hear an ordinance on second reading for the use of our Capital Improvements fund to enable the town's investment in priority priority areas such as parking system equipment and Technology recreation in fields and storm water management no debt Services generated from this authorization it is fully funded by the budget and from the code review and town property committee I am thrilled to have ordinances on first reading tonight to historically designate three separate homes on West Dudley Avenue which is a very fitting way to Mark the end of historic preservation month we had the great pleasure of councilman dagala educating all of us he's a great student on historic preservation um which was terrific so it's great because these three designations bring our total to 16 since we've been in office um and really reflects our commitment to making historic preservation a priority I do want to thank our very dedicated historic preservation commission for their ongoing commitment to highlighting and protecting our history through the designation of these homes um and of course many thanks to the owner of these homes who are voluntarily designating them as historic landmarks for future generations to enjoy and to particular to owner Jackie bravard who has been working on this for years with her neighbors so it's great to see her efforts come to fruition so after we vote on it tonight it goes to the um the ordinances go to the planning board for review and then comes back here for public hearing and adoption so um with that we'll get to tonight's uh agenda Miss lashi are there any advertised hearings yes mayor there are two advertised hearings first is for special or 20243 capital or of the town of Westfield County of union state of New Jersey authorizing the making of improvements and Acquisitions in by and for the town appropriating therefore the sum of 635,000 and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the capital Improvement fund of the town anyone wishing to be heard on special Wars 20243 please come to the microphone state your name and address for the record seeing no one may you may close the hearing this hearing is closed next is General ordinance 20242 to amend the court of the town of Westfield chapter 29a anyone wishing to be heard on General orance 20242 please come to the microphone state your name and address for the record seeing no one mayor you may close the hearing this hearing is closed councilman hap good please move for the adoption of special ordinance number 20243 I'd like to move for the adoption of special ordinance number 20243 Capital ordinance of the town of Westfield in the county of Union New Jersey authorizing the making of various public improvements and Acquisitions in by and for the town appropriating therefore the sum of $635,000 and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the capital Improvement fund of the Town may I have a second second my councilman contract any discussion please call the role council members have good yes dardia yesal yes keeper yes Saunders yes armento yes contra yes Mackie yes mayor yes this motion is carried councilman contract please move to the adoption of General ordinance number 202 24-12 I would like to move for the adoption of General ordinance number or 202 24-12 an ordinance to amend the code of the town of Westfield chapter 29a may I have a second second second by Council dagala any discussion please call the role council members have good yes Daran yes dagala yes keeper yes funders yes armenta yes Contra yes Mackie yes may yes this motion is carried may I have a meeting to approve the minutes for the Town Council conference and regular meetings of May 14 2024 so move by councilman Daria uh second second second by counc Saunders any discussion all in favor yes oppose this motion is carried now it's time for open discussion by citizens anyone may come up to the microphone and speak to the Council on any subject on which we have Jersey ition please state your name and address for the record and limit your comments to 5 minutes please okay hearing none um I close this portion of the meeting and move to bills and claims Council and half good thank you mayor I'd like to move bills and claims in the amount of$ 372,000 3287 may I have a second second by councilor Macky any disc question question all in favor yes yes opposed this motion is carried next on the agenda is reports of standing committees beginning with the finance policy committee Council and haur I have 10 resolutions I'd like to move as a package a resolution authorizing the CFO to refund Recreation Department fees a resolution authorizing the CFO to draw a warrant for the board of adjustment escro monies a resolution authorizing the CFO to draw a warrant for unused parking permit fee a resolution authorizing the CFO to draw a warrant for overpaid taxes a resolution authorizing the CFO to refund Police Department fees a resolution authorizing application to the BPU Community energy plan implementation grant program a resolution to award contract for fencing installations at various locations a resolution to award contract for Memorial Pool Splash Pad improvements just in time for next weekend resolution to approve Neil Rubenstein as our tax assessor and resolution establishing an estimated tax rate may I have a second second um I I would Neil I would i' like to acknowledge our tax assessor Neil Rubenstein and we're thrilled to be reappointing you here tonight and um and very grateful for your last four years right service which is unbelievable well thank you for coming back and do it again we know you know it's not an easy job and you're not always the most popular person in town but uh but we appreciate it so thank you yeah exactly um so uh all in favor yes yes oppose uh this motion has carried what did I do something oh I second I seconded it already oh don don did did oh oh I did oh Mike dagala I'm sorry second Mike dagala was the second oh Jesus my God can I just say Mike seconded and there three people can answer just say Mike seconded I'm sorry C it is crazy um okay this motion has carried and congratulations Neil thank you next is the code review in town property committee councilman contract I would like to move a resolution to to approve children's Amusement device licenses may I have a second second by councilman armento um any discussion all in favor yes opposed this motion is carried I would also like to move General ordinance number 20 24-13 on first reading ordinance designating 218 West Dudley Avenue shown on the tax sorry on the town tax map as block 903 L 41 as a Historic Landmark and modifying the zoning map may I have a second second by councilman Mackie any discussion please call the role council members havean yes Daria yes dagala yes kefir yes Saunders yes armento yes contract yes Mackie yes may yes this motion has carried next I would like to move General ordinance number 20244 on first reading an ordinance designating 248 West edley Avenue shown on the town tax map as block 903 lot 45 as a historic land Mark and modifying the zoning map yeah I have a second second second by councilman dagala um any discussion please call the role council members hav yes dardia yesal yes keeper yes Saunders yes Aro yes contract yes Mackie mayor ble yes this motion has carried and last I would like to move General ordinance number 20245 on first reading an ordinance designating 266 West Dudley Avenue shown on the town tax Mac as block 903 lot 48 as a Historic Landmark and modifying the zoning map I have a second second second by councilman armento any discussion please call the role council members have good yes Daria yes tomala yes keeper yes Saunders yes armento yes contract yes Mackie yes mayor ble yes this motion has carried may I have a motion to adjourn my Council and contract second second by Council keeper all in favor yes yes opposed this motion is carried this meeting is Jour Jour good night every