Madame Deputy Clerk, the time is now 7 p.m. It is now 7 p.m. and I'd like to call the regular township council meeting to order. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, >> present. Councilman Anderson,
>> present. >> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> present. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy has an excused absence this evening. And Mayor Whitfield, present. Thank you, Deputy Clerk. This evening, we have our prayer by
Muhammad Bukar, assistant imam at Willingboro Muslim Education Circle. Good evening, honorable mayor, council members, the township manager, the cler.
May the almighty Allah bless all of us. Um, let us pray. In the name of God, most gracious, most merciful. Alhamdulillah. All praise and thanks is due to Almighty
God, the Lord of the world. Rahman, the most gracious, the most merciful, master of the day of judgment. You alone we worship and you alone we ask for help. Guide us to the street part. Amen. Mor with your permission I want to
ask brother to do the call to prayer. Thank you for inviting us. Uh we like to share this prayer. It's a a prayer that is done five times a day in the Muslim community worldwide. Allah abar. Allahbar.
Allahbar. Allahbar. Oh shall I shall do a shadow? Im Love Lord Allah.
Thank you very much. And also we pray for the township. We pray for the council members, the mayor and the entire township. Pray for those who are sick. May the almighty Allah and for those who have passed away may
almighty have mercy upon them. Thank you very much. >> Thank you Mr. Bakar. Um, I want to thank the Willingboro Muslim Education Circle for being with us this evening in this holy month of
Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak to all of our Muslim residents. It is a fairly large community here in Willingboro. Um, and we want to um also be in support of uh
everyone that is uh celebrating the Holy Month this month. compliance statement. Oh, flag salute. First, may we please rise for the flag salute to the flag of the United States of
America and to the stands one nation with liberty andice for all. Amen. Compliance statement. >> Compliance statement. Notice was provided in compliance with chapter 231
of the public laws of 1975 to the Burlington County Times, Trenton Times, and Philadelphia in Enquir stating the date, time, and place and the agenda to the extent it was known. Additionally, notice was filed in the office of the township clerk.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to our first meeting in the month of March, Women's History Month. Um, we do have a present uh proclamation this evening which I will read at this
time. Proclamation Women's History Month, March 2026. Whereas the month of March is nationally recognized as Women's History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the countless contributions of women to our
nation to our nation's history, culture, and progress. Whereas the 2026 national theme for Women's History Month is leading the charge, women shaping a sustainable future.
recognizes and celebrates the leadership of women who are driving sustainable changes in environmental stewardship, economic growth, education, public service, and social justice. And whereas women of every race, class, and ethnic
background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways, serving as pioneers in government, education, business, science, the arts, healthc care, public
safety, and community leadership. And whereas women have played and continue to play a critical role in shaping public policy, advocating for civil rights, advancing equity and opportunity, and strengthening families and communities throughout the United
States and within the township of Willingboro. And whereas the township of Willingboro proudly recognizes and celebrates the achievement and leadership of women in our community, past, present, and those who dedic with
who serve with dedication, innovation, and service to enhance the quality of life for all residents and help build a more sustainable and inclusive future. And whereas Women's History Month provides an opportunity to reflect upon
the ongoing pursuit of equality and to reaffirm the commitment to empowering f future generations of women and girls to achieve their fullest potential. Be it further proclaimed that the township of Willingboro reaffirms its commitment to
supporting equal opportunity, leadership, sustainability, and advance advancement for women and girls throughout our community. Now therefore, be it resol be it proclaimed that the Township Council of Willing, New Jersey,
together with I, Mayor Samantha E. Whitfield and the residents of Willingboro Township do hereby proclaim the month of March 2026 as Women's History Month. Leading the change, women shaping a sustainable future.
So, I'd like to say happy Women's History Month to all of the fabulous, wonderful women that we have here in our township. Um we have at every level of employment um in every department there
are strong powerful women and I am proud to say that I am part of a governing body that is made up of primarily women. So, happy Women's History Month to my fellow council women um and uh Deputy Mayor Worthy uh who's not here with us
this evening. And also our council meeting this evening uh is we have our deputy clerk uh Nikisha Scott and our deputy township manager leading the charge for for
women's history month um as well. So, thank you both for your service as well. All right, moving right along, we will go to the manager's municipal updates. Deputy manager, >> I don't think it's on.
>> There you go. >> There we go. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening and members of council and to our community. I have just a few updates um for you since our last meeting. Um I will start with um in our police department we had uh yesterday I did have the
opportunity to attend their awards ceremony and so I just wanted to share and highlight a few of those. Um, we do have Sergeant Canales who is traveling to Italy beginning March 14th through the 22nd and participating in our professional leadership development course hosted by the New Jersey State
Association of Chiefs of Police. And um, the award ceremony yesterday recognized the officer of Q4 for 2025, also um, officer, detective, and supervisor of the year as as well as um, they awarded the captain Valencia award.
I just wanted to highlight those names. It was just wonderful to see um and hear about the work that's being done by our police department. So for um the officer of Q4 for 2025 was to was awarded to officer Gil Kenyonz for his
leadership, dedication and commitment to both the department and the community. Officer Kenyonz of approximately 20 years of service with the department and has a wealth of experience and knowledge strengthening the patrol division and the department as a whole. His commitment to the profession is evident
every day through the support of uh for his fellow officers and his service to Willingboro. Officer of the year award was given to an officer who has demonstrated exceptional service, professionalism, and dedication over the past year. The award honors an
individual who goes above and beyond their daily duties, showcasing qualities such as leadership, bravery, community impact, and excellence and performance. And for 2025, the award was given to officer Shante Jackson. She has demonstrated the highest standard of
professionalism throughout the past year. And officer Jackson has exemplified the police department core values of honor, integrity, and commitment to both the department and the community of Willingboro. Detective of the year award recognizes the detective who has exemplified
exceptional investigative skills, extreme dedication to prof to the police profession and outstanding service in their role. And for 2025, the award was given to detective Joseph Abadia for demonstrating exceptional investigative
skills uh and professionalism while serving in street crimes unit. the supervisor of the year award that was given to it's usually given to one of the 13 sergeants who has excelled in leadership, dedication, professionalism, and has led by example. And this
supervisor also lives up to the core values of honor, integrity, and commitment, and inspiring excellence within the department, enhancing the well-being for the community of Willingboro. And for 2025, that award was given to Sergeant Richard Coupe, who has served the department since 2004.
And then lastly, the third annual Captain Jerry uh Jerry V. Valenta Marksmanship Award. Um that award um honoring Captain Valenca dedicated 38 years of service to the Willingber community and has transformed firearms training in within the police
department. As a dedicated instructor, he elevated the standards, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, which remains essential uh essential to the department's approach today. The legacy is honored through the
Captain Gerald V. Valencia marksmanship award celebrating his lasting impact on training and the award was given this year to officer Tim Young. So, we just want to um congratulate all the officers with those recognitions. um as of yesterday. We appreciate the sacrifice
and hard work. Um in our public works department, we want to thank our hardworking um DPW team once again for battling battling yet another storm um last week getting us through another blizzard clearing off off uh 402 streets that they are responsible for. Um
unfortunately we are still experiencing a backup with the salt delivery. Um, so just to give you an update on that, they did place two uh two orders for salt. One order was 275 tons and with Martin
salt, Morton salt, excuse me. Um, and just yesterday, 25 um tons of the salt was delivered. So, we're still waiting for the additional um 250 tons. And then we also placed another order on February 26. And that order just arrived at the
docks today. So, just to um keep you all and the community um I know you hear, but it's we're really experiencing a shortage in the area. Um so, hopefully this was the last storm and public works won't have to clear those streets again. Um they're also still busy with cleanup.
We experienced 200 I'm sorry not 200 22 trees fell during the storm and they are out doing cleanup of that this week using two of the chippers and weather permitting they will begin doing pothole cleanup um beginning at the end of the week.
Uh residents, I just wanted to also um re remind um the residents that if you see construction going on in Mil Creek Park, that is again the charging stations are being installed for the electrical ve um vehicles.
Um our recreation department has applied for and received a $15,000 AARP grant and the funds for that grant will be utilized to upgrade technology in the senior center. We also wanted to remind our residents that there are several new programs starting March, April, and May. And our
rec our residents are encouraged to participate. Um, just to name a couple, we have the drone program and the mentality brunch series, which is a three-part series on Saturday. Um, so please engage yourself in all of the uh there's a lot going on in recreation
with some new exciting things. And I'll have Miss Jackson come up later um just to talk about uh some of the happenings with our programs and our fire department. They are working through um just a couple of vehicle issues. Two of the engines are currently out of service
for repair. Uh engine 1612 we should have back by the end of the week. And the other engine 1613 we're waiting on an insurance the insurance company to do an evaluation from some damage from an accident. And then we have one ambulance
that is out for service for a minor accident. And they're also completing um they did do some and are continuing to do interviews for PDM ENTs and they're back back filling two positions for two EMTs who move from
full-time to PDM and some firefighter vacancies. So willing, if you know anyone who would be interested in filling a EMT position, please encourage them to apply. And then in our communications department, um residents, some of you
may have already received your 2026 calendar. If not, it is on the way. I believe there are a few copies here in the carousel at the municipal building. Um but we have made that available. And with that, I will call up Miss Jackson and she will share the events to come.
Good evening, mayor, deputy oh no deputy mayor today, council and all those assembled. Happy March and happy women's history month and thank you um Miss Carmichael for sharing that. Yes, the calendar is now available and a copy has been sent to all residents home. It has
not re arrived yet. It's on its way, but we do have copies here. I put some in the back. We have them at the municipal complex as well as at the um Kennedy Center. But we do want to note that the calendars run through the end of February. So people get all anxious the
beginning of January, but they run all the way through the end of February. So um hopefully people note that um we do want to thank everyone who supported our Black History Month programs last month. We really do appreciate the support on and then as we embrace the month of
March on Sunday, March 8th, the Willing Public Library will be hosting Willing Women Give, which will feature our very own Councilwoman Rebecca Peron. That will be event will be held on March 8th at 2 p.m. at the library. And due to the early arrival of Easter
and unpredictable outdoor weather, we will be hosting an inside event this year. Springtime lunch with the Easter Bunny, which will be on Sunday, March 22nd. Parents and guardians of children aged 12 and under are invited to join us for afternoon of Easter crafts and
games, lunch with the bunny, and photo ops. And that cost is $20 per person, regardless of the number. And registration is now open. And then on Sunday, March 29th, we will have a phenomenal women's awards celebration. We're excited to share that we have
identified six wonderful women as this honores and we will celebrate them on Sunday, March 29th at 3 p.m. And we're looking forward to a wonderful afternoon in celebration of these women. As noted, um the Willenber rec department has several classes, programs, and sports
activities that are available to the entire community. The Brotherhood um brunch series will kick off on April 4th and there's our financial literacy service beginning on April 9th. All information is available at willingre.com. But we do want to bring to your
attention that information and updates will be forthcoming as we begin to transition willre umre.com to a new platform civic wreck. And this will align with the township's new website which will be powered by um civic plus.
So, more information will be forthcoming, but we do encourage you to stay informed through um signing up for the weekly, following our social media, and dialing our app to make sure that everyone is um informed and up to date. And lastly, we do want to remind you to
spring forward this weekend as we move towards more hours of daylight and hopefully warm temperatures. So, that's it for me unless you have any questions. Yes. >> Any questions for Miss Jackson? Council W. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Sorry. I know we're going to have a new app. Um the current app, is that something we're going to have to undownload or is it going to be a conversion like a push? >> So, the app I believe will be able to stay in tech, right? We're going to be Are we going to have to We don't have a new app. We just have a new website. >> A new website.
>> Yes. So, we're going to be able to transition that. The app will be able to move with us. >> Okay. So, it just won't be called Willboro Connect anymore. It will the app will remain the same. >> What did you say about that part? Then maybe I >> The um Willingberg wreck. >> Will be civic wreck. Yes, that will be
transitioning. >> The app will be transitioning for that. >> Willing wreck will be transitioning to civic wreck. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Jackson, Miss Car. >> Yes. I just want to make a quick
correction to um what I said speaking about recreation. when they applied for the grant on Friday. It hasn't been awarded yet, so it's in the works. All right. So, ordinances and resolutions for you tonight for presentation and your approval.
We have for final adoption ordinance number 2026-4 ordinance of the township of Willingboro amending chapter 150 section 8 entitled recreation department fees and establishing chapter 150 section 20 entitled facility uses fees of the code
of the township of Willingboro. Um and this is final adoption just separating the recreation fees to clearly distinguish building rental costs from program particip participation costs ensuring uh transparency and accurate budgeting. Fees are listed as
ranges to allow flexibility based on program type duration and cost enabling the township to adjust fees responsibly without requiring ordinance amendments. Ordinance number 2026-5 is an ordinance amending chapter 199
housing standards adding an article entitled uniform safe uniform fire safety inspections designating the township of Willingboro as a local enforcing agency for the uniform fire safety inspections related to the certification on smoke alarms, carbon
monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and secondary power sources. Um and we are it is recommended for council to approve the ordinance required uh by state law for the inspections. And then ordinance number the next two are from the clerk's office.
>> Yes, we have ordinance >> nice and loud. We need to hear you guys. Yes, we have ordinance uh -06, an ordinance of the township of Willboro repealing and replacing chapter 79 article 1 affordable housing and development fees and 07 an ordinance for
the township of William repealing and replacing chapter 79 article 2 of the affordable housing obligations. Uh so these are for final adoption tonight. Um so going back to ordinance uh 2604, we'd like to open this up for
public hearing. And anyone wishing to come forward to comment on the ordinance only, please do so. Okay, seeing none, we'd like to close the public comment for ordinance uh 26-04.
Can I get a motion to finally adopt ordinance 26-4? >> Second. Moved by Council Mintosh, seconded by Councilwoman Prong. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes.
>> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Mintosh, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Okay. The next ordinance we have is 26-5. Can I I'd like to open the public hearing for ordinance amending chapter
199 housing standards adding article entitled uniform fire safety inspection and designating the township of Willenboro as a local enforcing agency for uniform fire safety inspection related to the certification of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire
extinguishers and secondary power sources. Anyone wishing to speak on this ordinance could please come. So now seeing none, I'd like to close the public comment. And can I get a motion to finally adopt ordinance 26-5?
>> So moved. >> Moved by Councilwoman Peron, seconded by Councilwoman Macintosh. Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh,
>> yes. Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Next ordinance I would like to open up for public hearing is ordinance 26-6. Anyone wishing to come speak or comment
on this ordinance, please do so. Seeing none, I'd like to close public comment on the ordinance of the township of Willboro repealing and replacing chapter 79, article one, affordable housing development fees. Can I get a motion to
finally adopt ordinance 26-6? >> So moved. >> Moved by Councilwoman Peron, seconded by Council Mintosh. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Okay. And the last ordinance for public hearing I'd like to open up for public hearing is 2607, an ordinance of Township of Will repealing and replacing chapter 79,
article 2, affordable housing obligation. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this ordinance, please do so. Seeing none, I'd like to close the public portion. >> Can I get a motion to finally adopt 26-7?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Councilwoman Peron. Seconded by Councilman Anderson. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Councilman Anderson. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes.
Thank you, Deputy Clerk. Um, Miss Carmichael, will you continue with the explanation of the resolution? >> Yes. Resolution 2026-56 is the authorization approval for um, excuse me, voucher for payments. It's
our bills list. Resolution 2026-57 is a resolution accepting the tax collector's 2025 annual report. And at this time, I will have Miss Arnold
come forward. Hello. Good evening. Good evening. Um, okay. So, um, this report is the tax collector's annual statement of receipts. This is everything the tax office collected in 2025 based off the tax levy listed on page two.
The tax ratables are based off of land and improvements which give you the assessed value. The assessed value is what the tax assessor assesses and is collected to come up with our tax rate.
So the chart below um are the tax taxable properties. So for example, we have um 10,691 residential properties and the assessed value is 1 bill725,130,800.
Um this this assessed value is um like the total at the bottom that is our ratable the ratables that we um use to come up with our um our tax rate. So we
take this the tax ratables and we um divide it by our rate and then I mean well we multiply it by the rate and then we divide it by 100 and that is what we come up with for each property and um the different types of properties are
the residential, the vacant land, commercial, industrials, apartment, the farms and the public utilities. Um underneath that we have the exempt properties. These properties do not we do not collect um any taxes or anything
for these properties. And the exempt properties are the public schools. Um other schools other schools would be like um a charter school. Um we have public properties, charitables, cemeteries,
miscellaneous, and those properties are all the ones that are um exempt that do not pay any taxes. And underneath the last one is the taxpayers receiving deductions.
And we have senior citizen, disabled person, surviving spouse, veteran, and widow of a vet. Um if we go to page four, the tax collection percentages um for 2025, we actually
uh it's lower than what we normally um it usually goes up, but we did collect for the delinquent taxes. We collected more in the prior years. Um page five is um our payment methods
for the taxpayers, the payments we collect online. So for I have a breakdown of 2025 and 2024. So, we collect um credit card payments. We collect um you can pay with
their checking account or um debit cards. And these are all um broken down um and you can see the totals that we collect online. And we collected for 2025, we collected 73%
based off the um the the tax levy and it is more than what we collected last year. We we only collected 55% online. And then on page six, we have um I put
2025 and 2024 the tax rates. And this shows you like the difference that you know that it went up because our rate did go up from 2024 to 2025. And then underneath the ratables for um
the abstract ratables for the surrounding towns. This just shows you um their rates compared to ours as well. And then on page seven, I have the largest taxpayers in Wenboro.
page eight. Um my tax sale that I had last year, these are some certificates that were collected. Um FIG is actually one of our biggest um taxpayers in Wenboroough. So they had
the top three and um this shows you like the amounts that were collected and the premiums that were collected on each certificate. I only gave an example of um five different um certificates that were sold.
Page nine is all the municipal leans that Bullenboro holds that was struck off to the township. Um the oldest one is from 93 and then we have some new ones that were put on from last year. Um,
we have one, we have six new ones that were added on. And then page 10 is just a breakdown of our department. Um, each employee that is in our department. >> Thank you, Miss Arnold.
>> You're welcome. And we'll hold questions um for the time being until we are done with the >> Okay. Miss Carmichael, >> a resolution resolution number 2026-58 is a resolution authorizing an increase
of contract for plumbing services for Alaska. Um the 2025 is an increase of 33 $33,1178 which increases the 2025 aggregate from 40,000 to 73,1178 to close out all the unpaid uh bills for
2025 and it represents mainly um the costs for pool repairs that we had and some plumbing services around the township. Resolution 2026-59 authorizing the extension of contract for thirdparty billing services for
emergency medical services. We are requesting council to approve an extension of the existing contract for an additional 24 months commencing March 1st of this year ending February 28th of 2028 to Farnsworth and Simp Hempler LLC for the anticipated contract value in
the amount of $76,000 which is 38,000 for year 3 and 38,000 for year 4 which will increase space contract value from 76,000 to 152,000. Resolution number 2026-60 is a resolution authorizing the second
amendment to to the agreement with virtual health for the provision of advanced life support services. We're asking for the approval um for this resolution for the provision of advanced life support services transportation. The purpose of this
agreement is only for billing purposes that deal with Medicare and Medicaid patients and all other insuranceances are build by both basic life support and advanced life support agencies. The second amendment to the transport agreement between the township and virtual health will be for an additional
one-year period effective February 1st of this year and terminates January 31st, 2027. Virtual Health agrees to pay Willing the sum of $45755 for each p for each patient covered by
Medicare and $200 for each patient covered by Medicaid contingent on the Medicare Medicaid allowable rates. Resolution 2026-60 is a resolution authorizing the second amendment to agreement, sorry, 61, I'm
sorry. Resolution 61 authorizing the township of Willing to establish an anticipated contract value amount for land associates for the acquisition of architectural and engineering permit drawings for the interior authorizations for the Willingboro food pantry. Um,
this is also for design only. is not for the con construction of the food pantry. So we had asked for a proposal. The um engineers were asking that we actually get the architectural designs because the work had been done. Um it been some quite a bit of time had passed and a lot
of the work was incomplete and so they were not comfortable moving forward unless we got the actual architectural designs and so this was awarded to LAN who has previous experience with restaurant development. So the township was comfortable with that proposal. Resolution
2026-62 is for um authorizing emergency contract to abate um for Mark's law Mark's lawn service to abate unadressed snow removal on properties uh received their invoice.
So that's to cover $50,525 for that service. And then lastly, uh, resolution 2026-63 authorizing, um, the funding of the Willing Township of the MAX contract, which is solid waste removal for apartments and condos within the township. Um, this is year five of the
contract. So, the not to exceed for this year will be $135,000. And um also just to mention that the price is adjusted for the township based on um township used us usage and they go out to bid for this every 5 years.
All right. And resolution 2026 that's 64 from the clerk's office. So I'll pass it to Miss Scott. Uh 64 is a resolution granting social affairs permit and authorizing the township clerk to certify the same application is for the event date of March 14th 26. Resolution
65 is identical with the same with the event date of April 18th and the third one is for May 9th 26. So, these resolutions are three resolutions granting three social affairs permits for Diamond Dogs and authorizing the
clerk to certify the applications. The permits are as followed. March 14th is for a spring social and comedy show from the hours of 400 pm to 1:00 a.m. April 18th is for a member and guest mixer from 400 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. And May 9th
is for honory celebration from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Chief Bucks of the Willenboroough Police Department did review all three social affairs permit and have endorsed with the condition that the applicant complies with all local ordinance and New Jersey laws.
We have resolution uh 67 which is a resolution designating Willenboro AHJB LLC as a developer for redevelopment of a portion of certain property I identified as block 5.02 02 lots 8 Route
130, 9, which is Route 130, and 10 4292 Route 130, and 174282 Route 130, and authorizing the execution of the development agreement in connection therewith. Resolution 68 is a
resolution of the township council of excuse me resolution of township council of Willenboro adopting an affordability assistance manual. And then 69 is a resolution of the township council of Willenboro adopting an affirmative
marketing plan. Those ones should be um they're not included on your package. They were on the side. There should be a packet of those. And that concludes the resolutions. All right. Thank you. At this time, we will open up for our first executive or
not executive, public comment. Our first public comment of the evening. This public comment is for agenda items only. Um, if you would like to speak on any of the agenda items that were just explained, please come forward. You will have two minutes. There are public
comment cards in the back uh should you want to speak. And if uh we do not have an answer for you, um we'll be able to contact you at a later date, you can give that contact card either to our clerk um sitting on the front row or our
deputy clerk. Uh you will have two minutes. This public comment is for agenda items only. Public comment is now open. All right, seeing none, um I will ask council Oh, seeing none,
public comment is now closed. Seeing none, I will ask council if there are any items that you would like to pull from a consent agenda. All right. I did have uh a few um I did want to pull um 57 which is the tax
collectors report. I also wanted um to pull the 59 which is the third party billing services. And then
also I wanted to pull not 59 60 pardon me. So 5760 and Let's see. You said 57. >> Yes. 57 60
and 63. Okay. And 63. All right, we'll pull those three. Um, so I'd like to ask for a motion for a consent agenda for resolutions 2026-56,
2026-58 and 59, 2026-61, 2026-63 through 69. 9. We pulled 63. So it's 62. So 61 62 and then 64 through 69.
So again, that's 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, and 64 through 69. >> Second. >> Moved by Councilwoman Macintosh,
seconded by Councilman Anderson. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Can I get a motion to approve the same? >> So moved. >> Sorry. Oh, we have to roll call on that. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Anderson,
I mean, sorry, Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Mintosh, >> yes. >> And Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Now, may I get a a motion to approve the scene? >> A move. >> Second.
Moved by Councilwoman Macintosh, seconded by Councilwoman Peron. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> And Mayor Whitfield, >> yes.
>> Madame Deputy Clerk, can we uh go to resolution 2026-57? >> Yes. >> Can I get a motion to discuss resolution 26-57? Resolution accepting tax collectors to 25 annual report.
>> So moved. >> Moved by council Pon, seconded by council Macintosh. Discussion. Madame deputy manager, can we have um Miss Arnold please come back up? >> Sure. Miss Arnold, could you come up?
Good evening, Miss Arnold. Good evening. Um, I had a couple questions, but I want to put it out to council if there were any questions on the um, tax assessor's report or tax collector's report um, at this time.
All right. Um, so a couple questions that I had. one. I know um a hot topic um throughout town is the exempt properties. Um there's a miscellaneous category. Can you explain what properties are included in that
miscellaneous category for the exempt properties? Miscellaneouses are um No, that's the chair. Miscellaneous. They're um um
other charitables or nonprofit. Um, yes, they are the 100% um disabled veterans. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I had a mind block. I'm sorry. Um, yes,
there's 409 um 100% disabled veterans. >> Okay. So, that's all disabled veterans. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, yeah, we know this is a, you know, veteran community or it was built as a veteran community. So, um that
makes a little more sense there. >> Madame Mayor, >> yes, >> just off the question you just asked. Um but below we have the veterans a figure for the veterans. It says taxpayers receiving deductions. So, is there like a different category for the veterans?
Yes. um the 100% they're they're 100 they're 100% disabled veterans, but these are people that just um served in the service, but they just qualify for the $250. They're not disabled. >> Okay. So, they get a different rate.
It's like a different rate of the job. >> Yes, they only get deduction $250 off. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Arnold, for that. You're welcome. Um, I also just noticed a typo in your uh report with the credit
card collection portion. >> Okay. >> You have 0.073%. >> Okay. >> Um, and then you and your description you said 73%. >> Oh, 73%. >> Is 073.
>> Oh, okay. So, that's a really small amount of residents pay online. No, this is >> for the majority of >> this is based off this is 70.073% based off the >> the levy. So,
but do you see like for the visa we collected $886,000 but this is just the 886124 the 285 555 the 29,000 and the 208 216 that's
altogether the 073 represents the portion based off the the tax levy. >> Okay. So that is a a lot because the total for the year
we collected 1 million 408 one billion 408 or 1 million 408 over credit card statements. one one >> million >> 1,48,981. >> Okay.
>> But as a portion of the total tax levy, it's only 073%. >> Correct. >> All right. And then I did just want to call out for the residents on page six of the report um the tax rate. So
although the overall tax rate um for Willingboro residents did increase um from 4.317 to 4.405 the municipal portion of the tax rate
did decrease. So, um, our municipal portion that we as a body approve, um, the portion of our tax that comes to the municipality, it was 1
749 in 2024 and 1.745 in 2025. So there was a slight decrease um in our municipal tax rate, but there were increases um at the school level.
There were increases um to the open space tax. There were increases to the library tax um and also to the c the county tax. So those things contributed to the increased tax rate, not the
decisions of this council. And I just wanted to make that clear um to the public that we are doing our best to serve you and um really keep our municipal spending uh to what is necessary for us to operate.
And I think that was all I had. Any other questions from council? All right, seeing none. Thank you, Miss Arno. You're welcome. Madame Deputy Clerk, roll call.
Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Okay. Next, we have resolution 2660 for discussion. Can I get a motion to
discuss resolution authorizing the second amendment to agreement with virtual health and for the provisions of advanced life support services transportation? >> So move. >> Moved by Councilman Anderson, seconded
by Councilwoman Peron. Discussion. >> Oh, Macintosh. Um, madame deputy manager, I did want um to just pro provide a little more clarity on this. Can uh Chief Bernett Yep. Chief Bernett, will you come up?
>> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So, do you want clarity on the resolution itself? >> Okay. So, um this resolution is um or um the um in Burlington County, uh Virtual Health is the uh advanced life support
advanced life support uh system for um Bley County. Um we only do basic life support. So, whenever the medics ride on the AMS with us, only one entity can build the Medicaid Medicare uh entity. So, we allow the ALS to bill because
they are the higher service than than we do. and then they will pay us more for the transport. Uh and that's what this resolution is about. >> Okay. Yeah. And and I know um this resolution also we serve not just
Willingboro but other >> No. No. So So this this right here is only when we transport with a paramedic a Medicaid or Medicare patient to the hospital. And and it's only for those
two entities that only one entity between the paramedics or us can bill the insurance company. >> Every other incident or every other call we can bill both entities I can bill. >> Okay. >> Only for Medicaid and Medicare only one
entity can. They do a higher medical care than we do because they uh give drugs and everything else that we are not allowed to do. So, we allow them to uh bill and then we they pay us um
a a flat fee, right? And that happens with not just our agency, every other agency in Brun County does the same thing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. That that's helpful. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions on that?
Madame Deputy Clarks, Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Okay. Our next resolution for discussion is resolution 2663. Can I get a motion
to discuss? >> So move. >> Second. >> Moved by Councilman Anderson, seconded by Councilwoman Macintosh. discussion. >> Madame Deputy Manager, can we just get a little bit more clarification? I know we approve this every year, but um I just
want clarification. >> Sure. Um so it's a joint purchasing agreement between and it designates Maple Shade Township as the lead agency. So we our public works department does not do
pickup at apartment complexes and um condominiums in town. So we have a shared services agreement and the township is built based on tonnage or usage and so it could fluctuate depending on the weight um of what is
picked up. And so we don't it's but it's the county that goes out to bid. I don't know if Mr. Paris if there's anything that I need to add or take away from what I'm saying, but the county does go out to bid once every 5 years for the service to um for a service provider for that service.
>> So we do we pay or we pay into trash removal from apartment. >> So we pay we pay as part of the collection program. Willboro has a has a portion that and this is the resolution is approving the portion that the
township will pay for pickup within our apartment complexes in the town. Any other discussion or questions? All right, seeing none. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, yes.
>> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. And that is all the resolutions for this evening. Um, madame clerk, the treasures report. >> Can I get a motion to adopt, excuse me,
to approve the treasures report for February 24th, 2026? >> So moved. Second. Um moved by Councilman Anderson, seconded by Mayor Whitfield. Any
discussion on the treasures report? >> Seeing none. Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes.
>> We don't have any um minutes for approval at this time. Okay. And madame clerk, your update. So, it's just a reminder that petitions are due by March 23rd by 4 p.m., but we encourage everyone to submit early. Um,
important election dates to remember. The general election is on Tuesday, June 2nd. Voter registration deadline is May 12th. Must be post postmarked by this day. there was a notice to let you know to try to get it into the post office a
little earlier just in case it's not postmarked um on the day that you're actually submitting it. Earling early voting will be from May 26th to May for the early voting says May 26 to May 21st. So um deadline to apply by vote by
mail ballot through the mail is May 26. Deadline to apply for vote by mail in person is June 1st by 3 PM. And that is all for our election dates at this time. Um, new polling locations have been confirmed and more information
will be circulated within the next two weeks. This information will be provided to the schools, the library, JFK, and available at the township building. And we are working with communications to put all this information out on social media. Um, the final disclosure roster is open
and the clerk will be updating. And once that's updated, we will notify anyone that needs to submit. And just a reminder that the deadline is April 30th and there is a penalty for non-compliance. Um, and just to give you a little update on um, our solicitors, we do have 10
pending applications, but so far for 2026, we have none approved at this time. And at this time, that's all I have for updates. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Any questions for our clerk's office?
So, I did just want to um briefly discuss the polling place change. I know there's been um some discussion in the community um and I wanted to shed a little light on um the circumstances surrounding the polling place
relocations. So, as many of you know, um the township and residents of the township approved a bond referendum um for the schools to refurbish many of our school buildings, including the roofs and some of the interior. This poses a
little bit of a challenge especially for us during um voting season because some of the schools may be under heavy construction during that time and um not usable by the public. Um we did run into
they did start relocating the students as you all know. Um there's been some shuffling of schools around and some of the schools are closed to students currently as they're attending other schools. Um during our last election, we were a little fearful as we were going
in that some of the construction had already started and residents would not be able to enter the buildings to vote. That was not the case. We were able to proceed as normal and everything was fine. But with uh the snow clearing, some of that construction will be
starting and some of the buildings may not be usable or safe to enter for the general public. So instead of waiting until the last minute to find out what buildings will be usable, we will be um moving those school buildings, the use
of the school buildings for elections to JFK. Many of them are relocating to JFK. Um and then I think some of them are at the library. Um but many of them will be at JFK and the library um just to have a
stable location for these important elections that are coming up in June and November. So I hope that sheds some light on um the issue for the community. We really just wanted to take a proactive approach instead of a reactive
approach if we find out at the last minute that the buildings are unusable. All right. Any other questions or comments for the clerk? >> Just one note, um, the firehouse will be staying the same and then those that were at the JFK banquet hall, those are staying the same as well.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you, Madame Deputy Clerk. We will move along to unfinished business. We have the LRC remodel.
Madame Deputy Manager, would you be able to talk about that a little bit? I don't have a lot of commentary on it. I know a lot of um there was some changes received in from Alimo. So, we're asking the council to just review and give your approval or recommended
changes that you would like to see um for the updates that are made for the drawings. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um we So, you have on your DEA some renderings or some plans for the LRC
remodel and the senior center expansion. I know there's been some discussion about uh the grant money that was given for uh the senior center. This is incorporated in that. Um and we did receive new drawings. So, please review
those over the next uh couple weeks and if you have any feedback, we will discuss them at the next meeting. Any questions on that? All right. Um
I think some of it was in some of the layout um the layout of the LRC. We had spoken about um inclusion of like a sensory room and different things like that. So all of that is uh laid out in
the changes as well as that senior center hallway um expansion. It's very small. Um, it's very small. Um, do do you know if we received a larger copy or did we just receive the PDF version? >> I believe in an email.
>> Okay. Yeah. >> So, you may be able to um yeah to enlarge it on the PDF version that was sent. Um, this is a little tough to read because the text is very very small. Okay.
And then lastly, um, for boards and commissions, um, I did want to one, um, with I had a discussion with Deputy Mayor Worthy about, um, the WUA,
um, and Councilwoman Mintosh with your background and interest in the WUA. um fluoride issue. Um she is willing to or you know we think it would be best if
you would serve as the liaison for the WUA at this time. Um would you accept that uh liaison position alliance? Okay. All right. So, Councilwoman Macintosh um
will come off as a uh municipal alliance liaison and will be inserted as the liaison for the WUA. Um and we'll just do a flip-flop. Councilwoman Worthy or Deputy Mayor
Worthy will come off of the MUA and go on to the municipal alliance. All right. Okay. And then also we had some uh discussion about uh the parades and
events committee at the last meeting. Councilwoman um Peron. I did want to just address a little bit of that. At this time I am still reviewing with Mr. called the SOP um document that was brought up. But I did want to um talk a
little bit about the uh resolution surrounding the creation of the parades and events committee. Um I know we had discussed the the charge of the parade and events committee at
the last meeting but um here in I did review the resolution and in the third whereas it did say um the committee will act as an advisory board to the township council to plan assist and support
parades and similar events. Um and then it further goes on and says whereas all recommendations made to council must be made by a majority of the members of the committee and then the council may develop additional guidelines or bylaws
by which the committee will govern itself. So similar to all of our boards and commissions, you know, it is an advisory committee and we do approve the events. Um, I understand there's some uh
clarification needed on how the committees do work with our township uh employees to get things done and to execute um some of the events that were approved. So, we'll continue to work on that. >> Thank you. Um can I respond?
>> Sure. Thank you. And that's exactly um what I was referring to um because the the conflict issue is that first of all the recommendation which I had recommended the SOP standard operating procedure was to be established and
created for that resolution in making sure that we are also um abiding by our code chapter 12 which is for all ports and commissions because that resolution coincides with that the SOP E is written was written poorly.
Just just leave it that way. Um however the issue that the committee is having is that not that we don't want to notify I'm the liazison. So my job is meet with the committee. They come up with ideas for the township. We have a budget that the council approves.
>> I let them know this is the budget for the year. We come up with a yearly plan of these are the events we'd like to put on. I then email it to the council. If the council has any objections or concerns about the events at that time at the council meeting or whatever, they
can let me know. I'll bring it back and so forth. If there are no objections or no issues with the events, then the committee moves forward with planning the event such as the parade, so making phone calls, emails, etc. Everything that goes behind that. However, the
committee cannot direct, for example, the police department to to stand post on the parade. neither can I. That goes through the township manager. And that's just one example. So now the township manager is waiting for me to get approval from the council to tell him,
"We need the police to be at the at the parade." So therefore, there's bottlenecking and confusion. So, and like I said, that's one example. The other issue is spending the money. I don't just contact um the ch the finance office and say, "I'd like a check for
$10,000." This is just an example. there needs to be a process on how that's done with the parade and events committee and um what they're doing as far as you know putting on these events. So it's not it was never that the parade committee does not want to notify the council of what
events we're doing. It's the processing of communication between the township liaison which is me in this case the committee of members and the township employees. That's those are the issues al and also
advertisements. So this is you know spending money uh lawn signs things like that issues with with the township manager and how to communicate with um with the staff. So that's so this way that's a little bit hope that's more helpful um to as far as when we get the
SOP written that it's it helps with that process and communication. Thank you. >> Okay. Yeah. And I think um there is some clarity in the SOP with how to um request the funds. It does say um to use
the clerk's office to make the request and to um that the vendors will have to go through the traditional RFP process. Um so that does take time to go through those vendors in that way um if they're at a certain threshold. And then further
for the working with the uh administration I think part of it is when the slate of events comes forward you know with dates and you know how much of the budget is going to be expended for each one or what have you.
When that is approved by the council, then that's basically the council saying, "Yes, we approve all these events. That is the okay to work with the administration." But I'll make sure that that's clear in um the SOP. >> Right. And then other and then while
you're doing that, just also can you take a look with Jason as well? And I if I can be in a conversation as well, that would be helpful. But we do appoint leadership in this committee. So we have a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. So those individuals that are
are voted by the members, which I'm not a voting member. Um, as far as the chair, that's, you know, a leadership position. So why wouldn't the chair be able to communicate with somebody in the township? So I think that too needs to be if there's a way we can have that
spelled out. Um, because there's issue with me communicating with the staff and then there's issues there's and it's not clear if the chair can communicate or or email Mr. Paris about I don't know balloons or something you know something so simple because we're really talking about an event of
um what we basically we appointed the people there we gave them the budget and I'm bringing back any issues or events that we'd like to do right so just that's another um pointer um that I think needs to be clarified for that committee >> madame mayor
>> yes councilman Anderson >> just uh want to also mention I do believe the township has taken over veterans Veterans Day, Memorial's Day, and Junth. At one point, I do know the committee was in charge, but I think since the last event, I believe the
township has now taken ownership of those events. We just want to make sure those are noted. >> Yeah. And I think um I think that really speaks to the nature and the intent of this committee is that the parade and events committee um is supposed to work
with the township council to plan, assist and support parades and events and similar events. So even our calendar of events um you know the parade and events committee should be working with um the special events
coordinator to you know share ideas and and help plan um any of those events whether it be Veterans Day whether it be any of those events Memorial Day Junth any of the events that we do Black History Month event um any of those you
should be, you know, you can work with the township in planning the events that are sponsored by the municipality to ensure that those events are meeting the residents needs um and really cater to
um what our town would like to see at those things. >> Yeah. I mean, we're all seeing that now, but it's a whole another story once I get into an email with Mr. embarrassed and he knows that because and that's why I said I do not want to meet with him because we've met till I'm blue in the face and I just I I don't have the patience for you know after this all
sounds great because we're all saying the same thing we're speaking the same language and then tomorrow there's an email there's confusion on the phone somebody missed what we said today I just want an SOP so I can say here it is Mr. Paris, this is what we talked about.
I just think that would be very helpful. Um, and it's we're talking about something that's so simple. Yes, communication with the staff for the community. It's the same community. We all want the same objective, right? We all want the same goal and we just don't want to have confusion and frustration
along the process. And I think that would help with Mr. Harris, myself, the committee to that SOP. And like I said, if if it's a phone call with Miss um with Jason, um that would be help if I could be a part of that communication. This way we get it clear. There's not so
many different v variations of the SOP and um him as being this the attorney, which I do respect um his um his position as um as our solicitor. Um I feel that he will be guiding us in the correct way so to doing everything
properly. That's all. >> Okay. >> All right. I think that's all on that. You have something else. >> Okay. >> Um, council woman, um, with regards to the performing arts
theater, do we have a new start date? Somebody asked, "What is our start, um, opening day? Did that change? We have any updates on that?" Uh, madame deputy manager, >> I don't have an update um on there being a change from
>> So, what's the opening date? What when's our It's >> I know it changed a few times. What month? It's still April. Okay. >> Okay. So, April 9th is the grand opening of the performing arts center.
>> And are we doing anything grand to open it? Like, is somebody working on that? I didn't see any literatur. I missed it. Atlantic star this. Okay, that's all. That was all I had. Okay.
All right. Anything else for unfinished business? Seeing none, any new business? All right. Seeing none, we are at the public comment portion of our meeting. This is our general public comment. You'll have
four minutes um to discuss any items um any additional items uh generally involving Willingboro Township. This public comment you'll have four minutes. The comment cards are in the back should we need to contact contact you at a
later date to get you any answers. Public comment is now open. Madam Deputy Clerk, thank you, Mrs. Dar. >> Good afternoon, board. >> Good evening. >> Oh, good. Good evening. Is I'm still follow uh I was just thinking about how
I'm going to approach my comment today. Uh, first of all, I want to say I understand I'm speaking about the snow removal for the past two storms that we had. The township addressed it, but I think it could have been addressed a little much better for safety reasons,
for convenience, as well as for the people on the secondary streets. It seems there's a priority of what gets addressed and what street gets addressed during slow removing everything like
that. I understand the main roads need to be open for traffic and everything else. But I also think that we need to understand that we need to address the secondary streets. Um the first snowstorm they plowed
but there were like coming off of the main highway going onto the secondary streets there was a lot of snow that was not pushed cuz it couldn't be pushed onto the curb. I understand because of the fact that they didn't know where it started at that. So it was left say I'm
coming off a veteran Parkway to go on to Hullbrook Lane. Well, it was so much snow that I had to make a wide turn get around that corner. As I'm going to make this turn, going around this corner, there's a truck coming up there to go to Peter Parkway.
Both of us had to stop cuz one of us had to get. So, my my problem is safety. Do we have some What plan do we have for this? I understand we're not used to this kind of snow drop that we got these last two storms. Do we have a plan in
place? I mean, we should have got one from the first snowstorm of how to handle it. I didn't see anything different. Matter of fact, I think the second snowstorm it was worse. I went to California to get away from it and I came back and I ran into the second snowstorm and that was to me was handled
even worse. I'm not going to say worse. It wasn't handled as well as it should have been because my street really didn't even get plowed. It got grazed over because it was still snow and ice on my street after the plow went
through. My question is for that amount of snow that came, we should have had something in place or we should think about putting something in place when we get that kind of storm to I know we have public works that have
dump trucks and we have bobcats and all those kind of things that we can try to remove the access especially around the corners and stuff like that on the main roads and the secondary streets that we can put that basket that in dump trucks
and taken and delivered somewhere to make it a little more safer than rather leaving it the way it was where like I say you had a lot of snow that was out in the street and people had to make wide turns secondary streets particularly my street on 22 Holden Lane
Willingboro it was only it was only enough for one car so in other words if two cars was coming one coming gone one of them had to stop and wait for the other one to go why should we have to do that it's supposed to be a two-lane street and
regardless of what the conditions is, if we get snow or whatever it is, it needs to be made that way just like you do it on the highway on the main streets. Secondary streets need to get the same attention or as long as at least a little better attention. I looked at it as okay, I'm going to go in there and do
one row, one row and plow it and it's over. How about we get it open so everybody can move and then we come back and address the additional safety issues. Like I said, having too much the snow not really being pushed all the way out
so that both cars, both way lanes can go by without being impeded by the other. That should also be a part of our plan because hey, I'm paying taxes. So why shouldn't I be treated the same way the main roads is treat? Why should not my street be treated the same way that the
main rules are treated? Because you want to make sure that traffic get through. And I rode around the streets where schools were, they were clear. Mr. Thirstston. >> Yes. >> Apologize. That's your time. >> That's my time. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Thirsten.
>> Any other public comment? >> Good afternoon. >> Good evening. >> To the mayo. >> Can I have your name, please? >> I will. to the mayor, deputy mayor or township
council, township manager. My name is Ethel Williams. I'm a resident of Willenboro of 37 years.
The reason I'm here is because on last week I was driving on JFK way when I was passing the firehouse.
that old bill of the bank that was on the corner. There was a sound there and the sound that was on that building is
a dispensable sound. I say to myself, "Oh, don't tell me this is a smoke shop coming in my neighborhood where this um smoke shop is at."
Um, Hawthorne Elementary School, right down the street, Memorial Junior High, right around the corner from the
elementary school. The senior citizen building right up the street from where I live. It's right next to it. When I returned home, I called a few
neighbors and they was very disturbed about it. I'm here to ask you, I'm being very do something about it. I will appreciate it.
other seniors resident they are very disturbed about it. William is a very beautiful lovely community. I do believe that this will bring a lot
of traffic. So I'm asking you please do something about it. I called twice to speak to um the timeship manager. So far, I haven't
receive a respond. So, I'm asking you please, can you do something about it? There's a sign up already. Thank you very much. Thank you, Miss Ethel.
Any other public comment? All right, seeing none, public comment is now closed. Um, first to discuss the comments from Mr. Thirsten. Um, thank you for um bringing that to our attention. Um once
again the plowing as you know it's been a challenge um with the heavy snowstorms that we have been having. I did hear some positive news from some residents from the second snowstorm um that things had improved or the operation had
improved after the first snowstorm. But I do understand your concern about those uh turns and um kind of the width of the streets. I know part of it is in in part due to people not moving cars off of the
street. Um it impedes the plows from getting that curb to curb uh view that we want to see. But uh deputy manager, do you have anything to add for that? >> Um no, not anything I'd add. But I would would like the community to know um that
the police department did actively hand out uh distribute violations for people who violated the um vehicle ordinance for snow removal. So you notice cars are still on the street. Some people just don't move the cars for a number of reasons. Um so the police department was
actively issuing issuing um the violations on that. And I we do know in discussion with our public works department that they were um they were actively out there you know the 402 streets in Willenboro and they were
doing more than one pass and then after the storm during another pass and I know Mr. Thirst, you did mention um the ice was an issue. Um and I mentioned earlier we we just haven't gotten the ice from the county unfortunately until the all the storms were over and they were
feverishly looking for ice everywhere and we just couldn't salt. I'm sorry. We were not looking for ice or salt. I'm sorry. Thank you. Um but public works um has been in discussion with uh Mr. Paris mainly and we do have there's a that the plan is in motion and they work the plan
but sometimes it falls faster then you can scoop it up then you have to do a second third fourth pass and then after the storm um for the week after they went back for a few days to remediate even some of the corners we know it was an issue and the schools um sometimes may get the first or additional focus
because there was u the reason that we were doing the violations with inspections and had the emergency snow removal is because the children were walking in the street because the side works sidewalks were not being cleared and so that was a safety issue that they wanted to address immediately.
>> Okay. Thank you uh deputy manager. >> Madame Mayor, >> also Councilman Anderson. >> Also, it's also my understanding that we've had uh a lot of our senior employees retire. So, we have a lot of
new folks uh in DPW and they're still within that training mode of how to do it. So when there was a mass retirement more or less, they all went out together. So there was really no one left behind to start training and showing them properly. So we're just
trying to adjust, make, you know, make the changes and, you know, do the training. So just bear with us. It is a process, but we're working on. >> Any other comments on that? Councilman
Macintosh, >> I know our director of um W mentioned that possibly we had an outdated I want to make sure I'm clear. Uh outdated protocol, snow removal protocol. Um I don't know. I thought he said that last time, but I can we just make sure
that it's updated because the snow I I did experience the same thing. Mr. Thirsten, you know, even on Garfield Drive going onto a main street, it was still some of the same things. And I understand we have new employees, but um we do live in the
Northeast. So I think, you know, it's, you know, we've had a couple of years where we didn't have a lot of snow, but I think going forward, we just want to be prepared um going forward. Thank you. >> Thank you, um Councilman Anderson and
Councilwoman Mintosh. So yes, Mr. Thirsten, we we are working on those details. um some of the things that we did do um in preparation or or tried to do in preparation. I know I've personally been in contact with the
governor's office to try to get our um salt shipment. As deputy manager said, we had 275 tons outstanding of salt where we ordered salt prior to the both storms. Um and we still had not have not
even received that salt. We've only received 25 tons of that salt to this date, which just came in this week, right? Um, so we were doing all of the snow removal without salt, which really does not help with the ice melting. Um,
it does not help with, you know, making sure that it's melting in at a good rate because we don't have any salt to put down to aid in that. So, our crews, our DPW crews were out multiple times doing other passes, additional passes that
they normally wouldn't have to do in order to try and get some of that ice up um off the road. Um but yes, we our police department has been ticketing those cars. We've also um been removing some of the snow from the sidewalks
ourselves. Um but I do understand your frustration on some of the narrowing of the street. Hopefully our residents will continue to get the point after getting hit in the pockets, you know, a couple times from having their cars remain on the street um during those snowstorms
so that they will move them so that we can clear it um in a more suitable way. But we are working on medi mediating that. Well, we should I mean since we didn't get any of our salt this year, we should be well prepared with salt for
next year. Um and then um our crew will be more trained, better trained for next season as they've had to go through this season. Um and just experience that. But yes,
>> mayor, if I may, the violations were 140 issued by the police department. >> 140 violations for cars. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Just make sure you hit all of them. If we get more snow, get them all. All right. Thank you, Mr. Thirsten. But
if you have any other questions, feel free to contact our DPW director. Um if you have any suggestions or things like that, I'm sure um we're always open for, you know, suggestions to make the experience better for our residents.
And Miss Ethel, you were um discussing the smoke shop um at the old bank on JFK. Um, so I do know some of the actions that this council has taken to prevent smoke shops um from establishing
within um Willingboro is we did an ordinance that puts a minimum distance between the smoke shops to try to limit the number of smoke shops. Um, but Mr. Tonstol, can you speak on
Thank you. Council, happy women's month, right? Okay. All right. So, that particular smoke shop was approved in 2023 prior to us making the changes to our ordinances. Unfortunately, they just
recently started making uh modifications to the facility and they just opened up. Even though it was approved in 2023, it had to uh we had to allow them to continue with the process because it
already was approved. >> Okay. But after we they wouldn't have qualified if the changes were already in place. >> That is correct. Based on our new ordinances, that smoke shop would not be
permitted to be there. >> So, we are a little little late, but um so sorry that um we're delayed in that. Um it is by right development at the
time in 2023. So, they were allowed to put that there. Um, since we have made those changes to our ordinances to prevent additional smoke shops from popping up in um our prime real estate
and commercial locations. Um, and then Mr. Harris um just to call your attention, she did say she called your office twice. So, um just wanted to make sure that we're getting back to residents as their contact.
All right. All right. Uh, council, did I miss anything? Okay. Seeing none. Um, we will go on to council comments. >> Any council comments? I just want to
thank everybody for coming out, everybody who's watching online. Also, I want to say congratulations to all the officers who were recognized at the awards ceremony. Thank you and have a good evening. >> Thank you, Councilman Anderson. Anyone else?
>> All right. I did want to um just also uh second that congratulations to our police officers. We know Willenboro has one of the finest police uh departments in the state of New Jersey and I mean if you ask me I may be a little biased but
in the whole country. So so we we know and we expect greatness from our officers. Congratulations to Officer Jackson, Detective Abio, Sergeant Coupe um and Officer Young on their awards and any other officers that
were recognized um at that ceremony. We appreciate your hard work, your dedication, um, and your service to Willing Township and its residents. Um, as you know, we had another snow event. We discussed it a little bit, but we're
doing our best. If there are any spots that you think um, are being missed or things like that, please send an email or um, put in just a note into the Willing Connect app so that those places can be flagged. um and the DPW
department can just highlight those places to um be addressed or make sure that they get addressed um should there be another snow event and in the future. It it'll help us tremendously in our operations when we get feedback directly from residents. Um I do want to say
thank you to everyone that came out to our Black History Month program. It was a phenomenal success as we celebrated the hundth year of Black History Month. um and black history celebrations. Uh we had some talented musicians or
performers um and speakers at the event and it was really just a joy to uh be there to witness the greatness that centers right here in Willingboro and celebrate um black history and culture. So, thank you for everyone that came out
and please make sure that you're present next year as we do this once again. Um, also the county committee petitions are due March 23rd. As the clerk's office mentioned, please make sure you submit them um before, especially if you're uh
doing it by mail or um we just want to make sure that everything's in on time. We don't want any mixups with uh submissions. So, they are due by 400 p.m. on March 23rd. And please submit them before if you can. And then lastly,
don't forget this weekend we're springing forward. So although we get to lose an hour of sleep, um we get a little bit more daylight. So um don't forget to spring forward as we head and anxiously await the warmer weather that
is to come. All right, nothing else from me. We do not have uh any executive session tonight as we approved all of those uh
items during our consent agenda. So, oh right. So correction, we do have a short executive session and it should only take us less than 30 minutes. Resolution 2670, resolution authorizing a closed executive.
I'm sorry. I apologize. Resolution authorizing a closed executive session in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act for contract negotiations and attorney client privileges.
All right. Can I have a motion? >> Second. >> Moved by Councilwoman McIntosh, seconded by Councilman Anderson. Uh, any discussion? Roll call. >> Yes. Councilwoman Peroon, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh. Mayor Whitfield,
>> yes. >> All right, we'll be back in less than 30 minutes. Just a a quick discussion. Um vote anticipated Madame Deputy Clerk. >> Yes. The time is now
9:21. Can I get a motion to come out of executive session? >> So moved. Second. >> Moved by Councilwoman Mintosh, seconded by Councilman Anderson. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions?
All right. We are now out of executive session and I would like to call for a motion for adjournment. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Councilman Anderson, seconded by Councilwoman Macintosh. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any
abstensions? All right. Good evening, Willing. Have a great night. >> The time and happy Women's History Month. Sorry. The time is now 9:22 and the council meeting and it's officially adjourned.