We'll be starting in about 2 minutes. We'll be starting in about 10 minutes. We'll be starting in about minutes. So, test one, two, test one, two, testing, testing
be starting in about test one, two, test one, two, that was me as back. Testing testing microphone test starting and about testing test one two test one two
testing testing microphone test testing test one two test one two testing testing testing Testing, testing, you all set, miss. Madame Clerk, the time is now 7:03. We
can begin. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Is now 7:03. I'd like to call this regular township council meeting to order. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, present. Councilman Anderson, present. Councilwoman Macintosh, present. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, present. Mayor
Whitfield, present. Thank you. Um, for the prayer this evening, I'd like to invite Reverend Carlos Lamar from Jesus in is Lord uh to lead us in prayer for in tonight's prayer. Good evening, Pastor Lamar.
Good evening, Council. You guys look great today, by the way. Good evening, William Borrow. You guys look amazer. I would like to confess my sins ahead of time. Um the Bible says in chap in um Matthew
chapter 5:E9, blessed be the peacemakers because they will be called sons of God. Today we have some sons of God here
and I think u our town is good because it's a town of peace. Can I hear amen? Uh let us bow our heads. Lord, we thank you for this moment. We thank you for the ability that you
are giving us to be able to present to you, Lord, our peacemakers, your sons, those that will keep the peace. We declare blessings over those that
make decisions for a town. bless them, protect them. Give them the wisdom that they need to make the right choices. Lord, give them the ability, Lord, to have peace in the time of struggles.
Lord, we need peace right now. The world need peace right now. So, we give you thanks for giving us peace in our town. And we ask us, we ask you to give us peace in our heart. The name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen. Amen.
Thank you, Pam Marsh. You did good. Please rise for the flag salute. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 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 Inquirer stating the date,
time, 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. Thank you for joining us at our meeting this evening. We do have a very full
agenda today um with a number of events uh for that will be happening at this meeting. We'll be starting off with the swearing in of four new police officers and then we'll go on to a few um
presentations. one of which being the scholarship recipients of the inaugural golf mayor's golf classic scholarship awards. Um we'll also have a presentation from our library and a number of resolutions
that will be passed. So you picked a good one to come to. Thank you for being here. Um and we'll start off with the swearing in of our officers. We have four officers that will be sworn in tonight. Jaylen Wells Green.
You can stand as I call your name. Scott Cuni, Lewis Montenegro, and Robert Nunees. And before I do the swearing in, Chief Bucks, would you like to say a few words? Absolutely. Absolutely, Mayor.
Uh, thank you. I appreciate, you know, the time tonight to introduce our four new officers to to you guys and also to to the community. So, to my far right, we have Officer Wells Green. Officer Wells Green is a US Coast Guard veteran
and he's also a graduate of our youth police academy. Oh, very nice. Directly next to me is Scott Cuni. Scott Cuni comes to us from the workforce. His brother is a retired sergeant from
the Willingboro Police Department and his dad is a retired sergeant or retired officer from the Mount Laura Police Department. Very nice. Directly to my left is officer Montenegro. Officer Montenegro comes from Yeah. Turn around.
He comes to us from Virtua Willingboro as a security officer and he is a Army veteran. And to my far right is officer Nunes. Officer Nunees comes to us from the school board where he was a security guard for the school. And I turn it back over to you, Mayor,
for the swearing in. Thank you, Chief Bugs. Well, thank you all for your dedication, for your commitment to safety and justice. for your um uh swearing to protect and serve the
residents of Willingboro. We take public safety very seriously in this town and we know that you'll do the best job that you absolutely can to protect yourselves and our residents alike. Um it is no
small task to agree to or to sign up for this job. So, we appreciate your raising of the hand. We appreciate your commitment to safety and to justice. And we'll move on to the swearing in.
So, if you all will raise your right hand and you'll repeat after me. I state your name. Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution
of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and the governments established
in the United States and in this state, county, and township under the authority of the people. and that I will faithfully, impartially,
and justly perform all of the duties of police officer in Willingboro Township. So, help me God. Congratulations to you all. Now I'll ask if you can have your loved
one come up for the badge pinning. It is my honor to present to you new officers of the Willingboro Police Force, Jaylen Wells Green, Scott Cuni, Lewis Montenegro,
and Robert Nunees. Welcome to Willingboro, gentlemen. Moving right along to our next uh presentations, we'll have the presentation of the annual golf scholarship um recipients.
So, I will start by calling up Elijah Rodriguez. Oh, good evening. Well, congratulations, Elijah, on your award. I'll read your proclamation and then you'll come up and take a picture with council and then you'll see the
clerk to receive your scholarship award and a little swag bag from the township. All right. Proclamation recognizing the Yes We Can Scholarship. Elijah Rodriguez awardee. Whereas the
Yes We Can Scholarship exists to recognize and support exceptional students who exemplify the highest ideals of civic responsibility, social engagement, and steadfast commitment to the betterment of their communities. And
whereas the recipient of the Yes We Can scholarship has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to service, leadership, and advocacy, uplifting those around them through meaningful action and leaving a lasting impact on
their local community. Whereas they have shown resilience, passion, and innovation in their efforts, creating opportunities for others, amplifying marginalized voices, and building coalitions rooted in empathy,
collaboration, and a vision for lasting change. Whereas the values embodied by the student reflect a very reflect the very spirit of yes we can movement. The unwavering belief that young people can
lead dream boldly and change the world through courage, compassion and commitment. Whereas the student will continue to gain valuable knowledge and experiences that will empower them to lead, innovate and give back to their
community. Whereas the township of Willingboro encourages the student to use their talents, knowledge, and voice not only for personal success, but also to foster unity, drive progress, and help build a stronger, more vibrant
Willingboro. Whereas the recipient is not only a leader of tomorrow, but also the promise of today. and the future of Willingboro Township will be carried forward by their courage and capability. And whereas we honor this individual not
just for who they for what they have accomplished, but for who they are becoming, a catalyst for justice, a voice for progress, and a beacon for of hope for generations to come. Whereas the following award has been established
to honor this this deserving recipient in the inaugural Mayor's Golf Classic Yes We Can Scholarship, Elijah Rodriguez. Come on up, sir. And you can see the clerk, Deputy Mayor Worthy.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Proclamation recognizing full steam ahead scholarship. Cameron Ashgar awardee. Thank you. Whereas the modern world is ever evolving, demanding that young minds not only keep up but lead the way
in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics, collectively known as steam. And whereas the recipient of the full steam ahead scholarship has demonstrated exceptional curiosity, creativity, and commitment to exploring and mastering the principles
that power innovation and discovery. And whereas the recipient has shown not just an aptitude for academic excellence, but a passion for hands-on inquiry, problem solving, and collaboration, seamlessly blending leftbrain logic with rightbrain
imagination. And whereas they have inspired classmates and mentors alike through their dedication, integrity, and relentless pursuit of of knowledge, often going beyond what is taught in the classroom to explore and apply concepts independently. And whereas the student
will continue to gain valuable knowledge and experiences that will empower them to lead, innovate, and give back to their community. Willing burrow. And whereas the township of Willingboro encourages the student to use their talents, knowledge, and voice, not only
for personal success, but also to foster unity, drive progress, and help build a stronger, more vibrant Willingboro. And whereas the recipient is not only a leader of tomorrow but also the promise of today and the future of Willing
Township will be carried forward by their courage and capability. And whereas the following award has been established to honor this deserving recipient in the inaugural mayor's golf classic full steam ahead scholarship award Cameron Ashgar. Now therefore, I
Samantha E. Whitfield, mayor of the township of Willingboro over there, on behalf of the council and the citizens of Willingboro Township, do hereby proudly proclaim and recognize this outstanding individual as a full steam ahead scholarship recipient, applauding their commitment to exploration,
innovation, and interdisciplinary excellence. Congratulations and Councilman Anderson announced it for you. I said Councilman Anderson. No, no, the name of the awardee. Oh, I didn't do that. Oh, you didn't do that. Oh, all right.
AC over there. This proclamation is recognizing vocational excellence scholarship which is being awarded to David A. Watson Jr. Whereas skill, precision, and craftsmanship are fundamental to every
thriving community and the pursuit of vocational excellence deserves our highest respect and recognition. And whereas the recipient of the vocational excellence scholarship has distinguished themselves in a hands-on career focused program through outstanding work ethic,
technical mastery, and a genuine commitment to their trade or vocation. And whereas they have demonstrated real world problem solving ability, a professional demeanor, and the readiness to enter the workforce or continue training with confidence and competence.
And whereas this student has shown that excellence is not confined to traditional academic measures, but can be found in the meticulous weld, that flawless haircut, the expertly programmed circuit, or the perfectly tuned engine. And whereas the student
will continue to gain valuable knowledge and experiences that will empower them to lead, innovate, and give back to their community. And whereas the township of Willingboro encourages the students to use their talents, knowledge, and voice not only for personal success, but also to foster
unity, drive progress, and help build a stronger, more vibrant Willingboro. And whereas the recipient is not only a leader of tomorrow, but also the promise of today and the future of Willingboro Township will be carried forward by their courage and capability. And
whereas their efforts uplift not only themselves but also their peers, their mentors, and the industries they will one day lead, demonstrating that skills, pride, and purpose go hand in hand. And whereas the following award has been
established to honor this deserving recipient in the inaugural Mayor's Golf Classic Vocational Excellence Scholarship Award, David A. Watson, Jr. Now therefore, I, Samantha E. Whitfield, mayor of the township of Willingboro, on
behalf of the council and citizens of Willingboroough Township, do hereby proudly proclaim and recognize this outstanding individual as a vocational excellent scholarship recipient, applauding their exceptional performance, leadership in their field,
and commitment to technical and professional growth. Councilwoman Mintosh. Thank you, Mayor. I have a proclamation recognizing Make a Difference Scholarship for Leila
Neely. Hello. Whereas true greatness lies not only in personal success but in the positive impact one has on others and the world around them. And whereas the recipient
of the Make a Difference Scholarship has demonstrated compassion, leadership, and a commitment to service that transcends individual gain and reflects the highest ideals of community and citizenship. And whereas their actions have brought light
to dark places, hope to the discouraged and strength to those who felt weak. Proven that kindness and courage are among the most powerful forces in this world. Whereas the recipient has inspired peers, educators, and community
members alike through a steadfast dedication to equity, empathy, and ethical action, refusing to stand by in the face of injustice and indifference. And whereas their example has mobilized others to believe that they too can be a
catalyst for change, a bridge between people, and a builder of a better world. And whereas the student ha will continue to gain valuable knowledge and experience that will empower them to lead, innovate and give back to their
community. Whereas the township of Willingboro encourages the student to use their talent, knowledge and voice not only for personal success but also to foster unity, drive progress and help build a stronger, more vibrant
Willingboro. And whereas the recipient is not only a leader of tomorrow but also the promise of today and the future of the Willingboro Township will be carried forward by their courage and capability. And whereas the following
award has been established to honor this deser deserving recipient in the inaugural mayor's golf classic make a difference scholarship award. Leila Neely Oh my god.
And last, but certainly not least, Councilwoman Prime. Thank you. This proclamation recognizing scholar athlete scholarship is being awarded to Jazzelene Campbell.
Whereas excellence in both classroom and on the playing field demands a rare and disciplined balance of intellect, physical strength, time management, and character. And whereas the recipient of
the scholar athlete scholarship has shown remarkable ability to succeed academically while also excelling in one or more athlete pursuits. And whereas
this student athlete has juggled the rigorous demands of practice, games, and training schedules with the equally high expectations of academic coursework, consistently
maintaining excellence in both arenas. And whereas their sportsmanship is as strong as their competitiveness and their leadership in athletics
is matched by their example in scholarship. And whereas they have demonstrated discipline, teamwork, resilience, and drive, not only to win games, but to grow as a student and as a
teammate and as a person of integrity. And whereas their commitment to learning physical wellness and community service shows a well-roundedness that he elevates both their personal goals and
the school community standard of excellence. And whereas the student will continue to gain valuable knowledge and experiences that will empower them to lead, innovate, and give back to their
community. And whereas the township of Willingboro encourages the student to use their talents, knowledge, and voice not only for personal success, but also to foster unity, drive progress, and
help build a stronger, more vibrant Willingboro. And whereas the recipient is not only a leader of tomorrow but also promises of today and the future of Wllingboro Township will be carried
forward by their courage and capability. And whereas the following award has been established to honor this deserving recipient in the inaugural Mayor's Golf Classic Scholar Athlete Scholarship
Award, Jaselene Campbell. Now therefore, I, Samantha Whitfield, mayor of the township of Willingboro, and on behalf of the council and the citizens of Willingboroough Township, do hereby proudly proclaim the celebrate this
exceptional student as a scholar athlete scholarship recipient, acknowledging their dedication to achieving greatness through both mind and body. All right. Thank you again to all of our recipients
um for their excellence in their respective fields. We are so proud of them as the council and we wish them much much success in the future as we move forward. I did want to or Councilman Anderson, you said you had a
recap from the inaugural golf event, correct? Yes. So, before we show you the presentation, there's a few folks in the audience that I would like to thank that allowed us to carry this forward to make this a success. We were able to raise
$10,000. Each student received $2,000. So, it was a huge success, but it couldn't be done one without the administration, Mr. Harris, Deputy Manager Gary Lowry, Miss Tanya
Jackson. Uh, can the committee members please stand up if you're in the audience? Miss Deborah Price, Miss Pat Lindseay Harvey, Mr. Dennis Tontol, Dr. worthy myself and also our 501c3
partners which is the new new foundation. Can representation please stand up? Mr. Gregory Ackles, Mr. Daryl McMillan, I just want to say thank you for everybody who rolled up their sleeves allowing the council to believe in us to
make this happen. And as we indicated, it's the inaugural. We're looking forward to doing it again next year. Hopefully on a bigger scale we can raise more money to put back into these into the community so that our children can have an opportunity to get a a head start on books, school, whatever the
resources that they need. So at this time we're going to tee up highlights of the event itself. [Music] annual Mayor's Ball Classic. We uh agree to keep the social before I get in trouble. I need to acknowledge those members who are not here. Mr. Ron
Timmons, Mr. Aaron Davis, Miss Janice Peppers, and our host for the event was Miss Mimi Brown from 105. Before I get in trouble, I need to acknowledge those members who are not here. Mr. Ron Timonss, Mr. Aaron Davis, Miss Janice Peppers, and our host for the event was
Miss Mimi Brown from 105. Before I get I see, can you turn the volume back down on the in the courtroom? Thank you. All right. Thank you, Councilman Anderson, for that update. It um it it
was a really great time, and I look forward to future events. Next, we'll have an update from the vault dispensary, Tanisha Victor. Hi everybody. Good evening. Good
evening. So nice. You want to put up and if you can speak nice and loud into your microphone. Yeah, no worries. Can you hear me? Okay. Um, so I wanted to provide you guys with an update on where we're at. So, next week we plan on filing building permits. We're just
about completed with our uh full set of MEPs. Uh, we have a couple of renderings here. They're still conceptual. We're still working through some of the design elements, but the fundamentals of the space are already established. So, this is what we envision the outside looking like. We're going to keep the majority
of it looking relatively the same. Obviously, just swapping out signage. Um, if you go to the next, you'll see some additional photos. That's like what it'll look like at night. Keep scanning. Keep scanning. This is uh a look at the
interior. So, that's what our sales floor would look like, the sales desk. We're keeping a lot of the fundamentals relatively the same just so that we can move as fast as possible. Um, so not a lot of ton of work on the finishes. We anticipate late September, early October
being completed and ready to open. Um, just based off of the timelines that are provided and the lack of uh changes that we're making to the interior of the space. You just keep scanning through. It's just some additional photos of the look and feel of the space.
Some kiosk through the end. I think I can keep scanning. There we go. Yeah, just a couple of additional pictures. Like I said, minimal minimal changes to the interior.
Um, on the licensing front, and I shared this in an update in an email to everybody as well, uh, we're actually through what they call the investigative period, um, which is where they just do background checks on all of the principles involved in the business. So, we completed all of our background
checks. Um, and they're reviewing just our personal history disclosure forms, which they don't seem to have any remarks on. And we believe and we're hopeful that we think we're going to be on the next CRC meeting, which takes place in early July. Thank you so much. Does anyone have any
questions for Miss Victor? Seeing none, thank you so much for the update. So much for your time. We appreciate you. Thank you. All right. And with that, we have one last presentation from Willingboro Public
Library, the library board of trustees. And that presentation will be given by the library director, Miss Plet Do Williams. Good evening, Mr. Williams. Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, council. Will
nice and loud into the mic. Okay. Can you hear? Nice and loud. Okay. Thank you. We will start by showing our clip. So the clip is um what the tax dollars
that we received from the township. What's your problem? Thank you. Thank you very much. In addition to the activities and statistics shown in the
tax dollar clip, more continues at the library this year. The library purchased 50 new computers at the end of 2024. 22 new computers
are installed for the public use. 12 in the reference department, two express computers, four in the YA room, and three and four in the children's room. Nine more are being installed in the computer training center. The rest will
be used to replace staff and program programming computers. The new computers are equipped with Windows 11 and Microsoft Office 24. The website is being updated as much as possible
because it's out it's being updated because of its outdated functions. There was little that could be done. A new website is being built and will hopefully be rolled out during the fall.
With support from DBW and the cleaning team, the library is presentable space for community. We are still faced with some challenges. The library continues to operate with minimum staffing which limits the hours
of operation and output to the community. The budget cut of $52,000 has increased our problems. Staff are filling in for duties the custodian did that were not related to cleaning and we
are not in a position to hire a replacement. We are in need of administrative help, library assistance, library associates and a librarian. Staff are working overtime and get come
time which makes regular scheduling more difficult. Notwithstanding we offer in addition to books the library lends laptops, Kindles, hotspots, Chromebooks. We have sewing
machines and more. We offer computer classes, notorious services, databases, American Sign Language classes. We do job search and resume help, exam proctoring, GED testing
services, faxing, scanning, and photocopying. These are just some of the few things that we do there. We have meeting rooms, study rooms, and co-working space. Check out the local history room for
yearbooks, pictures, and other willing historical documents. The exhibit room has monthly displays. Currently, we have the alpha copper alpha and the reception is tonight. We have a little free library. Patron
can pick up books when the libraries when the library is closed. Ebooks can be downloaded downloaded through Libby, Hoopla, Access 360 and Palace Project. Those are the four
sources for ebooks at the library. We offer free museum passes from 14 museums located in New Jersey and Pin Civilia. We partner with organizations for mentoring, ESL, ASL, and other
educational programming. Our social services partner partners with Catholic Charities, legacy treatment services, and virtual to bring monthly programs to the library in addition to daily social
services assistance. programming is um we have programs that are ongoing at the library. WH YY popup news will be at the library ready to talk to the community from 12:00 p.m. to 400 p.m.
tomorrow, Wednesday, June 18th. Story time with Miss Tessa is also tomorrow and every Wednesday at 11 o'clock a.m. Summer learning program kicks off on June 28th from 1 to 3:00
p.m. Children of all ages can sign up and enjoy fun activities, crafts, music, games, and snacks on Saturday. The six week summer learning begins the following week from June 30th to August
7, 2025. On Mondays, we will have children's in grade children in grades 1 to 3 at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, children in grades 4 to 6 at 200 p.m. Wednesday for
early learners at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, teens in 7 to 12 grades at 2:00 p.m. That will be for the whole six weeks. This year, we are having adult summer reading. So we are asking the adults to
sign up on Saturday. You can sign up. We we don't have meeting dates but we'll have challenges for the adults. Teen Gim is every Monday and Thursday from 4 to 6:00 p.m. in the library and
online gim is Saturday 6 to 8:00 p.m. Friday June 20th is after hours teen at the library. It's a very popular program with average 35 teens per night. Last um
last month we have 49 kids who attended the program. Your family history and genealogology can be found using family search database on Wednesday, June 18 from 2 to 3:00 p.m. Miss Linda, our local history
librarian, will guide you. Junth, arts and crafts is June 19th. June at 6 PM. Dream more teen summit is June 21st at 12:00 p.m. Introduction to Google Docs is June 21st at 2:00 p.m.
The sewing class is June 23rd at 6 PM. Explore the local history room is June 25th from 2 to 3:00 p.m. Miss Linda, our local history librarian, will help you find important history of
Willingboro. Virtual health will be at the library on June 24th from 10:30 to 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 for blood sugar, cholesterol, and high blood pressure screening. These are the programs and
update from the library. Thank you, Mr. WS. Does any council members have any questions for Mr. Williams or about the library? Deputy Mayor Worthy. Thank you. I don't know if it's for Mr. Williams or the trustees, but I had a question about the
the bud the cut of $52,000. Um, I know when council inquired about it, uh, we were told that the the cleaning, like the cleaning for the library, um, that money was being taken out and, um, that the township was taken on that. Was there were there other cuts
to the budget beyond a swap of money for cleaning or any other funds that weren't um, distributed to the library? We have not had cleaning for a number of years. So it has never been a part of our
budget or it wasn't a part of the last year's budget or this year's budget. The custodian I was also told that it was because of the custodian salary. The custodian made
maybe 60% of the amount and the custodian did not only do cleaning duties. He set up meeting rooms. He went to the bank, went to the post office, came to the township, and did other things at the library,
which we have no one to do now. So, we have staff members doing it like the circulation manager has to go to the bank and that's not what she's got up to do. So, we still need to find someone to do these duties and have them paid.
Thank you, Mr. Williams. Any other questions from council? All right, Mr. Williams, thank you so much for your presentation. We're committed to making sure that our library is sustainable. Um, so we will be working with you further to make sure
that the library has all the resources that you need. Thank you. Thank you. And now we'll be having the reading of our Junth proclamation by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Whereas Junth, also known
as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day and Jubilee Day commemorates the date of June 19th, 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. Whereas Junth stands as
a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of African-Americans who have struggled for freedom, justice, and equality throughout history and continue to shape and enrich our communities and nation. Whereas the observance of Junth offers
all people the opportunity to reflect on our nation's history, to recognize the systemic injustices that persist, and to recommmit ourselves to the work of building a more equitable and inclusive society. Whereas Junth has grown into a celebration of black culture, heritage,
and achievement, marked by family gatherings, education, art, music, and reflection on the past and the promise of a more just future. Now therefore be it proclaimed I, Samantha E. Whitfield, mayor of the township of Willingboro, on behalf of the council and the citizens
of Willingboroough Township, do hereby proclaim the month of June as Junth, a day of remembrance and celebration in Willingboro Township, and urge all residents to honor this historic day by learning, listening, and lifting up the voices of black Americans, by promoting
unity and equity, and by standing together in the pursuit of freedom and justice for all. Let us celebrate this day not only as a milestone in our shared history but also as a call to action to acknowledge the past, confront the present, and shape a future rooted
in equality, dignity, and respect. Thank you, W Mayor Worthy, and happy Junth to everyone. Please note that we will have our Junth uh festival on June 21st at Mil Creek Park. and I'm sure um
Miss Jackson will share more information on that coming up. I'll turn the meeting now over to our township manager, Mr. Dwayne Harris, um for updates and overview of the resolutions. Good evening, mayor and members of the
governing body. Can you hear me? Is it loud enough? Okay, nice and loud. Nice and loud. Uh I'm not really not really going to go through a lot of the uh report this evening. I will touch on some things. you did get your full report in your packets and um and it will be available online for anyone from
the public who wants to review any of the information. But I will ask Mr. Chapola to come up at this time and give you a very short recap on some of the uh important projects that are going on here in Willingboro. All right, Mr. Chapo, let's keep it
brief this time. Got my marching orders. Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Deputy Mayor. Good evening, council. Good evening, sir. Thank you. Nice and loud into the mic. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Okay, I will keep it brief. Uh,
the performing arts center phase one. The seats are in. Everything looks good. They're currently putting in some sound deadening panels in the front of the stage. Uh, we still need to install carpeting, step lighting, and cleanups and brick walls. Performing arts center phase two. We expect to advertise this
by Friday, June 20th. I've reviewed the drawings and specs and sent the comments to Pinoni to include in the drawings. Um, last week I went out to Edge Lane to verify what was uh done on the drawings by TNM Associates, sent the comments to TNM Associates and they're going to be
incorporating them into further drawings. I was out at a sinkhole yesterday on Shetland Lane with the Department of Public Works and they told me this morning that everything was fixed per my requests. And I'm also going to start to investigate fabric
covered structures for the new aquatic center. Uh I'm going to have a pre-construction meeting next week with CME Associates, our consulting engineer, and Earl Construction to start the uh Buckingham Avenue project. I received
three proposals so far for the Babbot, Ballwin, and Bratford Lane storm water system repairs. I'll be looking at them and bringing a report the next at the next meeting of who we recommend to do that work. I've been speaking to several other government agencies u in Ohio and
New York. They were given to me for references from the speed hump company manufacturers and they've installed uh several of the speed humps and just trying to get opinions on product quality and other factors before we make any purchases uh on the streets that I had spoken to
previously at the Kennedy Center uh for both bathrooms at the entry hallway and one at the exercise room. Um I requested a formal request for quotations go out to contractors for labor only. We will be purchasing all materials for the for
the bathrooms. Um looking at three potential locations for emergency repair funding by New Jersey Department of Transportation infrastructure grant uh that is at Plum Tree and Potter Lane, Ballad Lane, and Shetland Lane. And last
but not least, uh for the fitness court, we have uh finally resolved the matter of payment to Diamond Construction for additional concrete site prep work. And we're going to I'm recommending that we award or I'm sorry recommend that the we
approve the resolution tonight for change order number two to Diamond Construction and they expect all the punch list items to be completed next week and then we can finally schedule the installation for the equipment. Get that started and that's all I have.
Great. Thank you. Any questions everybody? Any questions? Seeing none. Thank you Mr. Chipola. No, you were great. Thank you. Thank you everybody. Thank you Mr. Chapola. And I'm going to call up next Miss Jackson to give you an update on the things
happening in Willingboro. Good evening, mayor, deputy mayor, members of council. Good evening. How's everybody doing? Good. So, a few updates for you. As the mayor advised, all are invited to our June team celebration on Saturday, June 21st from 12 to 4, which
will be at Mil Creek Park. It will be a day filled with dance, music and celebrations as well as our freedom trail. So we do encourage all of what everyone to attend. And then on next Friday, all are invited to the fourth in
our six series Friday night live music series. And if you missed this past Friday, you missed a treat. I'm just saying. So, if you have not joined us, we encourage you to come on Friday, June 27 for the Philly Destiny Band. That
will be at 7 o'clock. And residents, of course, are always encouraged to arrive early and reserve a good spot. Bring your chairs. You can bring your own snacks, but we do have food truck on site. So, we encourage you to come and be a part. And then, uh, we will be
wrapping up. We have one on July 11th which will be um Sunday dinner. That's the name of the group. We won't be offering Sunday dinner. And then on July 25th, we will wrap up with the wise touch which is um smooth jazz. So we're looking forward to that. We do want to
remind you that country club um pool is now open on the weekends from 11:00 to 5:00 and Dendelli operations will begin on June 28th. So please make a note of that. And looking ahead, save the dates of Saturday,
July 19th for the annual burrow barbecue and Sunday, of course, August 10th for our 42nd annual jazz fest. A summer mailer will be coming. I'm arriving in mailboxes soon to highlight some of these events and more. And always you can find it on our website, social
media, Willing Weekly, and um through our Willing Connect. So, thank you so much. Any questions? Thank you, Miss Jackson. Any questions? Thank you. Seeing none, Mr. Harris, you may continue. Thank you, Miss Jackson. Just a quick report on our
finances. As of May 31st, the township has collected 17,96,449 in total revenue, of which 16.767 million uh came from property taxes. We dispersed 3.28 million to the
Willingboroough Board of Education and 2.27 27 million was transferred to Burlington County for second quarter uh county taxes. Uh our police department, we have Officer Patrick Grazia who retired on May 31st after 25 years in law
enforcement, including service as our K9 handler since 2016. He has received uh multiple commendations and um we deeply appreciate uh his service here in Willingboro. The Youth Police Academy uh
is planning uh their class 15th class which is scheduled from July 21st to August 8th. Uh participation is from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program targets high school students that are interested in law enforcement or military careers
and uh boasts a 3-week immersive format uh unique in New Jersey. It's almost like boot camp. Uh and and as as Chief Bucks noted, uh four of our current officers are actually alumni of that program. So it
is a very rich and beneficial for any of our young persons that wish to participate in that program. Uh some notables, Officer Kenyonz and James participated in the police unit tour biking from New Jersey to Washington DC
to honor fallen officers. uh they supported the Special Olympics as honor guards and medal presenters on June the 6th through the 8th. Um we swore in four uh officers this evening and um again congratulations to Chief Bugs and the
department who received their fourth accreditation um here in the in the department. So that's a major um achievement and uh the Kona with the cop event was held on the 12th and the bike
patrol will resume uh for the township on it has resumed for the the township. I also would like Captain Bucks to come and give just a quick uh shout out to Captain Erin Harry who is uh what I believe doing something really
spectacular. Welcome. So, uh, Captain Harry is going to be, uh, she leaves, uh, June 28th and she'll be gone for 10 weeks and she comes back September 4th. She's attending the FBI National Academy. Uh, she is the eighth person from
Willingboro to attend and she's our first female to attend for for uh, for Willingboro. Quickly about the National Academy, it's one the top 1% of law enforcement executives. So her accomplishment is something extraordinary because you know you
figure you know the police department or police in general is more of a a maledominated profession. So she is in that top percent 1% so she is even a little bit slightly smaller than that to be able to attend this uh this prestigious
uh event. Thank you. And thank you, Chief Folks. And I think it's pretty phenomenal within itself that eight of our officers have attended this program. I think that in itself is a is a statement about the quality of the police officers here in Willingber.
Uh quick for our Department of Public Works, um the DPW pole barn that has been up for decades and was demolished. And um depending on the resolution passing tonight, we are making arrangements for a new one to be
constructed. Um PSCG and Brian Electric will be out at Mil Creek Park on June the 17th for a site visit to uh install uh EV charging stations out by the Futura House. Um two of our employees have completed the core pesticide
training and they are now eligible for commercial certification pending their 40 hours of on the job training. Um, as you are aware, the Penny Packer cool pool was closed. Um, and the ballfield netting at Lizzy Park and JFA fencing repairs were delayed due to some vending
errors, some vendor errors, and some staff shortages, but we will get those taken care of as soon as we are able to. Um, just to note that DPW over the last month has collected 220 bags of trash. They have repaired 35 potholes,
inspected 719 catch basins, cleaned 422 of them, and collected 1.87 tons of recycling materials. And we did receive an additional 82,000 from our clean communities grant as well this year. U our inspections department has been very
busy also. They completed 200 2,933 inspections. That's a lot. Um they they issued 1,365 violations, 19 summones, and they closed 1,568
cases. So our inspections department also is very busy. They uh issued 218 construction permits, 154 zoning permits, and they collected $77,835 uh in fees this month.
Um just a note on human resources, we did have two new code enforcement officers trainees uh added to our inspections team. And in our vital statistics department, they registered 152 births in the month, 53 marriages,
uh eight deaths, and um the mayor performed 12 of those matters. So those are just some of the uh highlights of the report for the month. And again, it is available on the website for the public to review. Okay. Any questions from council on
uh Mr. Harris's report? Seeing none, we'll move on to the resolutions overview. So the items being prepared presented to you for this for your consideration this evening is ordinance number 12 which is an ordinance of the township of
Willingboro amending article 4 of the township code regarding powers and duties of the township manager. Ordinance number 25-10 is going to go for a public hearing and final adoption potentially. That's an
ordinance to add a chapter introducing seconds story deck and balcony restrictions in all residential zones to the code of Willingboro Township. And ordinance number 2511 is also an ordinance to introduce a new chapter regulating new convenience store hours
uh and proximity restrictions um in the township code. Resolutions being presented for your consideration. The first one was pulled from the June 3rd meeting and that was to authorize the township to establish a not to exceed amount for pioneer pole
buildings. That's for the construction of the department of poleb barn in the department of public works. Uh resolution number 148, which was also pulled from the meeting on June 3rd, is a resolution authorizing the township to award a contract to Cherry uh Valley
Tractor Sales um as part of the New Jersey state approved purchasing cooperative to purchase a Kabuto zeroturn lawn mower. Don't know exactly what it is, but it's supposed to be a good piece of equipment. Uh resolution number 154 is authorizing
release of a performance payment and a 2-year maintenance bond um in the amount of $28,545 to Standard Pipe Services for the Bolton and Balfford Lane St. Cole repairs which was completed and um done two years ago
and we're ready to release the maintenance bond. Uh resolution number 155 is a resolution to uh cancel old outstanding checks and reconcile the books. There were several checks um that were issued from the
township to certain individuals dating back from 2021 that have not never have not been cashed. So we're going to cancel those checks and then re-reconcile our books. Resolution number 156 is a resolution regarding the
governor's council on substance uh use disorder. Um that's the municipal alliance to prevent substance uh abuse uh for the fiscal July 1st through 20 July 1st to June 30th 2026 um cycle. I
believe we are going to receive uh $2,250 um in that grant and there is a $875 matching portion from the township. Resolution number 157 is a resolution to
participate in a pilot electronic tax sale program. The township has uh participated in this program in the last few years. However, it is still deemed a pilot program. So, we still need authorization from the uh the governing
body to participate. Resolution number 158 is a resolution authorizing the township tax collector to prepare and mail estimated tax bills um in accordance with PL194 um C72.
This is usually done when the county has a delay or has been delayed in approving their budgets and it enables us to do an estimated tax bill. so we can go ahead and get those mailed out and uh continue to collect um taxes from the residents.
Resolution number 159 is a resolution authorizing an increase to the not to exceed amount for Penoni Associates for the provision of engineering services to the township. We had a number of bills from Penoni that came into us very late from 2024
um that we uh are just compelled to to pay. Resolution number 160 is or resolution approving the vouchers for payment and ratification. Resolution 161 is a resolution authorizing an application for grant funds from the Burlington
County Municipal Park Development Program for the recreation de recreation development of a fishing dock at Crystal Lake. Uh we had talked about this a few years ago of the desire to put a fishing dock out on Crystal Lake and hopefully
we'll receive this uh grant which would cover the anticipated construction costs. Resolution number 162 is a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding between the township of Willingboro and the Willingboro WCDC
uh or the um community development corporation um for collaborative efforts regarding the restoration and revitalization of the Futura House located in in Mil Creek Park. Um both
organizations have been working very diligently to secure uh grants and um uh volunteers to to work on the future house. Um but I felt we felt that it was in the best interest for one entity to
kind of take control and uh the WCDC was the the better of the two. Uh please understand that we are not relinquishing control or giving the property to the WCDC. they are just going to move forward in solidifying grant opportunities and defining volunteers so
we can get that um up and rebutified and um back in service. Resolution 163 is a resolution authorizing um uh inramm foreclosure actions. Um, you may understand that the township
absorbs a lot of leans on properties from people who don't pay their taxes. Um, and this is an opportunity for us to foreclose on those properties. Um, recoup any any monies and repurpose them uh for purposes that are um much better
suited than just sitting empty. Uh resolution number 164 is a resolution authorizing the township to award a contract under a national cooperative uh source well and that's to purchase a a
full um one Polaris full-size ATV. Um that is a vehicle that will be utilized um by the police department to uh have a little access little more access into some of our parks and areas where police
vehicles cannot um adequately um traverse. Resolution number 165 is a resolution authorizing the renewal of alcoholic beverage control liquor license for July 2025 through June 2026.
Resolution 166 is a resolution extending the time period for the vault dispensary to receive all necessary cannabis state permits. Resolution 167 is a resolution authorizing the release of a performance
bond and waiver of a maintenance bond for the Willing Barrow Town Center Manager LLC. Uh this is the Starbucks uh location. um the development. Um they did plan they did uh provide a planning
bond to the township while they were going under or performing all of their work. Um the work has been uh completed satisfactory. It was recommended by the engineer that the performance bond be released. We are going to wave the
maintenance bond uh because it is a just a percentage of the total construction cost and the uh amount of the the maintenance bond would literally be just enough to maybe cover some uh landscaping and shrubbery. So we didn't
feel that it was really um that essential for what we believe to be a good community partner here in Willingboro. Resolution 168 is a resolution designating blocks 2 7.01
5.01 5.01 lot 3 5.01 lot 3 with the qualifier um and several other blocks and lots along uh Route 130 as a condemnation redevelopment area and directing the
planning board to prepare a redevelopment plan. Uh resolution number 169 is a resolution of the council of the Willingboroough Township endorsing a fourth round housing element and fair
share plan. Resolution 170 is a resolution of the council to approve a fourth round affordable housing trust fund spending plan and requesting a program requesting program and court approval of
the spending plan. And there is one more resolution in your packet which is number 2025- um is it the diamond construction? Yes. It'll be resolution 2025-171
and it is the last couple pages in your packet council. And that was the resolution that Mr. Chapola was referring to in his um in his report. what had happened just so full clarity um Diamond Construction was awarded a
contract to build the outdoor fitness court. Um the contract award was $54,484. There was a an error in um the the bid document and um Diamond Construction because they did not provide certain
information did not get the addendum. um they went in, they did build the fitness court according to the specifications, but then turned around and gave us a change order in the amount of $47,538. Uh we have been back and forth
discussing this. Um, and after conversations with our legal counsel and their legal counsel and the engineers, um, because of the circumstances surrounding those, uh, conversations, it was determined it would be just better
for the township to go ahead and pay um, the change order because if they had received the addendum and modified the order, the total that we would be paying them is really in line with the totals
of the other bids as well. So, it's kind of yeah, there were some administrative, but it would be fair and proper to pay them the monies. Um, and we're going to go ahead and do that and get our fitness court finished. And those are all the
items being presented to you this evening. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Madame Clerk, we're going to Oh, now I will open it up to the public for public comment on agenda items only. This public this public comment is for agenda
items only. If you would like to speak on any of the agenda items that Mr. Harris just mentioned, you can come up to the mic in the courtroom or raise your hand online. Please state your name and address for the record. Public comment is now open.
I see. Is there any online Is there someone online that would like to speak? It's a dial in caller. You'll need to unmute your line. We can't hear you. I don't have anything to say this right now.
Okay. Hello, Miles. You may need to raise the volume in the courtroom. We can't hear. Hello. There we go. Hello. Good evening, Miles. You may need to raise the volume
in the courtroom. We can't hear. Hello. There we go. Hello. You may need to raise the volume in the courtroom. We can't hear. Hello. There we go. Hello. You may need to raise the volume in the courtroom.
in a loop. Hello. There we go. Hello. All right. Having some technical difficulties. Can we hear you online? Having some technical difficulties. Can we hear you online? Can we hear you online?
Mrs. SWH. Yes, that's Sarah Holly. Sarah Webb Holly. That's my name. Okay. I thought for a minute you guys were playing games with uh who's online and who's not online. All right, couple of questions. I'm glad to see that Mr. Harris tonight
is going to present. That's my name. Excuse me. I thought for a minute you guys were playing games with uh who's online and who's not online. Okay. Seems like seems like it's an an echo there. Um I want to congratulate Miss Holly if
you can give us a second. It seems like we have some feedback. It's looping. Okay. Thank you much. I'll wait for my two minutes echo then. All right, Miss Holly, maybe you can try again. Okay, see now we're back back to the
black screen which you guys uh said here in the courtroom. Okay, now we can now you're back to the black screen which Samantha said last week that it was a user error. I had its squad in here and it's not user it's not
user error I would like to apologize for that and it seems that we may have to uh suspend the public comment coming from the web for this meeting. I'm sorry for the
inconvenience. Any other public comment in the courtroom? Hi, good evening. It's I'm just uh about resolution 168. This is just a question. Ma'am, can you please state your name and address? Mary Maryanne Coelloo. I
live in Manor on Manor Lane in Willing Barrow. Um, I just am curious the uh designating uh this area all these blocks to condominium redevelopment area. I'm just curious how crowded and how many units is it going to be? Like
the the condominiums they just built down by the the um the Wawa is I mean it's like people are squeezed together. So, I'm just curious how many uh units are going to be approved. That's just my, you know,
concern. Thank you, mayor. All right. Seeing no other public comment is now closed. Um to respond to your question, the resolution 2025-168 um it is develop or it is establishing a
condemnation redevelopment area. Those are vacant or underdeveloped, undeveloped, in need of redevelopment locations along Route 130. It doesn't necessarily mean there will be condominiums there, but it does um
designate it as a redevelopment area in need of redevelopment. No problem. Um again, I am sorry for those who are online. Um, any questions or statements you'd like to send, you can send to our
clerk. Um, and they'll be addressed at a later date. Sorry again for the inconvenience for the online participation piece. All right, moving on. Um, I'd like to ask council for
or let's do ordinances first. We'll do ordinances first. Uh, madame clerk. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Or, um, we have one ordinance for introduction tonight. Um, ordinance number 2025-12.
Can I get a motion to introduce ordinance 2025-12 titled ordinance of the township of Willingboroough County of Burlington, state of New Jersey, amending article 4 of the township code regarding the powers and duties of the township manager. So moved. Second.
Moved by Councilwoman Peron. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron. Yes. Councilman Anderson. Councilman Anderson. Yes.
Councilwoman Macintosh. Yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. Yes. Mayor Whitfield. Yes. Thank you. And then I have two resolution. No, I'm sorry. Were we going to have discussion? Do you want to have discussion? Well, that was before the That's what she was
voting for for us to discuss that. We didn't discuss that. It was just a that was just the introduction. Um, but we can go back. Uh, we do that and all the votes. All right. if you I do have questions,
concerns about this introduction. Okay. I didn't realize she wasn't going to polling to take it on put on the table. I don't know. Okay. So, I I I first I um put it on the table. So, I would track my vote.
Resend my vote. Okay. For the record, Councilwoman Peron would like to rescend her motion. And we have I will resend my second. and doc uh deputy mayor will resend her second um so we can discuss the
resolution at hand. Can I get a motion to discuss ordinance? A roll call to resend. Should everyone resend the roll call? Okay. A roll call to resent. Okay. Can I get a roll call to This roll call will be to res resend
the motion and second. Uh Councilwoman Pone, yes. Councilman Anderson, yes. Councilwoman Macintosh, yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, yes. Mayor Whitfield, yes. Can I get a motion to discuss resolution 2025- Ordinance 2025-12? My apologies. So
moved. Second. Moved by Councilwoman Pon, seconded by Councilwoman Macintosh. Discussion. Yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Oh, thank you. So I have um concern about this
ordinance introduction because um initially um the top of the article states township manager um which already exists um based off of the um the governance that we are embodied under which is a council manager form of
governance. So this article describes the powers and duties of the township manager as therefore the council the five council members appoint the township manager. It outlines all of his duties and responsibilities. Um it is
pretty lengthy but um to summarize his responsibilities um it is the powers and duties of the township manager to appoint remove a deputy manager um appoint all department heads and other officers subordinates assistants etc
with the exception of course the township clerk and tax assessor. My concerns are what you're trying to add. What you've added here is letter C and it says negotiate contracts for municipalities subject to approval of
the municipal council make recommendations concerning the nature of the location municipal improvements and execute municipal improvements as determined by the municipal council. That part actually I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with the next letter which is D. Deputy
manager. You've included the deputy manager and responsibilities underneath the title of township manager. If you want to have a resolution for deputy manners manager's roles and responsibility, it should be on a separate um article. But in add in
addition to letter D says the deputy manager which is the township manager may designate a deputy manager who shall act in place of the manager in their absence and will otherwise have other functions, powers and duties and may be
assigned by the township manager. Number two, it says here, "The deputy manager shall provide administrative and operational support to the township manager, assist with formulation, implementation, review, and control the
policies and procedures and regulations regarding the administration of the township and under the direction of the township manager be responsible for assisting in the supervision, direction, and monitoring of the township's day-to-day oper. operations. Thirdly, it
says here during any temporary absence of the manager and in brackets less than 30 days or in the event of their disability, the deputy manager shall exercise all powers and perform the
duties of that office. So that is what has been added. I have an issue with that because this already speaks to a deputy manager which the township manager is allowed to appoint a deputy. That deputy is there in the event the
township manager needs him to have hold a meeting. He can't be there such he's not there to change our policies make decisions on our contracts. You've basically have outlined the entire job description for the township manager and have given it to the deputy. Then you
say here it says and less than 30 days which by way meaning if the township manager takes a vacation for one week now the deputies there to change policies terminate employees build contracts and and negotiate business. That's that's not okay because the way
it it rates initially is in the event the township manager is out of office for more than 30 days then yes the deputy manager can step in more than 30 days. The township manager does not go
on vacation for more than 30 days. That is why it says more. But what you've placed here it says less than 30 days. And a few months ago, okay, Mr. Harris took a vacation for what, five, four days and you paid the deputy manager
more money for stepping in and and looking at emails, I guess, cuz it wasn't a disaster that took place. And now you're actually trying to alter the township manager's roles and responsibility. And I have a huge issue with that because according to the New Jersey local government desk,
that is the job and responsibilities of the township manager, not the deputy. And when you look at where deputy is placed in here, the deputy is somebody that the township manager can appoint to assist him if he needs one, if we allow him to have a deputy and if it
fits into the budget. So, I have a huge issue with you trying to change the law and add the deputy manager's roles and responsibility and mirror it to the township manager when the law already speaks to the person who we've hired to
be the chief of this town is Mr. Harris and no one else. He can get help, but that is it. So, those are my issues there. And I would like to um for I know this is an introduction. I'm not exactly sure what this what the scheme is and
what the plan is and I I feel like, you know, because of the last meeting when Mr. Harris took a four-day vacation and I complained about the money, you wanted to pay him additionally when he already receives a salary. So now you're trying to make it indefinite and that's not okay. This goes against the law. Thank
you, Councilwoman P. No. Any other questions? What happens, Mr. I would like I said thank you council woman attorney to speak to you councilwoman. question. Any other questions from council? Okay, seeing no other questions from
council. We do have um are you going to have the solicitor speak to my question? I'm excuse me if you want to counciloman and conducted orderly equally to everyone. I have a question to the solicitor. I made valid question. Do not ignore me, Madame Mayor. That is not
fair. if you would give me a chance to speak and to respond without interjecting and interrupting my speech, it will be addressed. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you, Mr. Halt, if you would um just explain
or Mr. Harris, if you could also explain the inclusion of this deputy manager portion into this ordinance. Um, so what Councilwoman Corron is is stating is is not necessarily incorrect.
The the state statute does provide that the township may appoint a deputy manager. However, there were no job duties or descriptions of the duties of the deputy manager. When we were reviewing the the code of the township,
um we felt it was best to align what was written in our code book was was very basic and out ofd to make sure that it was in line with what the state statutes provide and everything in there is pretty much the same as what the statutes provide. However, we did add
the section for the deputy manager because, as you correctly stated, when I took an 11-day vacation last year, it became a little hokey because there were no clear directions as to what the duties and powers in authority the
deputy township manager actually had. So, we thought it was best to put something down in writing. So, if that happens in the future, it's black and white and very clear. I will thank you for pointing out the word less because it should actually say more than 30
days. Um the deputy township manager would receive um an adjustment in compensation and they would then have the powers to perform all of the duties um as outlined because god forbid something could happen where
I would could be out for an extended period of time. And once again, uh, this c this being entered into our ordinances actually establishes policies, procedures. I'm not giving any duties. It says to provide support to assist.
I'm not giving him or turning over any of the duties or responsibility to him. But yes, we will work as a team. We will work collectively together to to make Willingber a better organization. Thank you, Mr. Harris. And yes, so thank you for correcting them more because now
that helps. However, my my concern still is that it's a part of your job description. It should be a completely different article on its own. And in your article, yes, it should say you can appoint as it does say that you can appoint a deputy manager. But now we
don't just throw in a whole person's job description when at the top of it says article 5 township manager. that is the responsibilities of the township manager. So I um would like for that to be its own article um pulled out on its
own article and be very careful with the words because we are also governed by the law. We cannot make up our own laws. We can create policies but we have to be careful that we're aligning oursel with with the law that already exists. So I
would like for the Mr. um for our solicitor to speak to that component, Mr. Harris has already responded to the more than 30 days because that is the truth. But as far as like pulling it out for um to have it its own article, what are your thoughts on that? Um Mr.
Holt, could you respond to that? Uh yes, you can do it that way if that is the council's desire. You can also amend the article where it says township manager and amend it to reflect and deputy manager. So that will cover your
concern I believe. So now what about with the New Jersey local um government desk when we do have in there we're citing um articles from the desk book when it speaks to township managers roles and responsibilities. It doesn't say township manager and deputy
manager. Well, the desk book is a compilation put together by um a private group of lawyers, right, to explain from their vantage point how they are interpreting the law, but they're referring back to
the statutory body of law. So, I'm not sure exactly how it's set out in the desk. If you want to pass it down to me, I'll be more than happy. Yes, I'll actually walk it over to you. So it's an introduction. We can take it. We can discuss it further. I don't want
to deliver that piece, but you can actually Okay. So again, it's an introduction. So I'm um thank you for deciding to discuss this because at the next council meeting perhaps um some of these things can be hashed out which as far as the
vocabulary and um Mr. um Halt can take a look at the the New Jersey um government law desk book which are referencing NJSA 40A throughout. Um but that's all my questions regarding and concerns
regarding that. Madame Mayor, thank you Councilwoman Um I will say in the interim if anyone has any questions or further um issues would like any clarification on ordinance
uh 2025-2 um please contact either the township manager um the clerk's office or our attorney Mr. halt um to get your questions answered as to not belabor the
uh issue on the next council meeting. Any other discussion? Seeing none, roll call. Councilwoman Pone, yes. Councilman Anderson, yes. Councilwoman Macintosh, yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, yes. Mayor Whitfield,
yes. Thank you. All right. We have two ordinances for public hearing and final adoption. Ordinance 2025-10. Um I'd like to open the public hearing on ordinance number ordinance 2025-10 titled ordinance to add a chapter
introducing second story deck and balcony restrictions in all residential zones to the code of the township of Willingboro. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this resol or ordinance, I'm sorry. Um please do so. Seeing none, I'd like to
uh request a motion to finally adopt ordinance number 10. So moved. Second. Moved by Councilman Anderson, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Discussion. Roll call.
Councilwoman Prone. Yes. Councilman Anderson. Yes. Councilwoman Mintosh. Yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. Yes. Mayor Whitfield. Yes. Thank you. All right. The next ordinance we have for a public hearing um tonight is
ordinance number 11. I'd like to open public hearing on ordinance 2025-11 titled ordinance to introduce a new chapter regulating new convenience stores, operating hours, and proximity restrictions in the code of the township of Willingboro. Anyone wishing to come
forward to comment on this ordinance, please do so. Evening, Pat Lindy Harvey, Bedford Lane. I'm very happy to see this. Uh we have far too many convenience stores in town as it is and I'm very glad to see that you're going to put some restrictions on it.
Thank you. Any other public? Seeing none, I'd like to close public comment on 2025- ordinance 2025-11. Can I get a motion to finally adopt ordinance number 2025-11? So moved. Second. Moved by Councilman
Anderson, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Roll call. Any discussion? Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, yes. Councilman Anderson, yes. Councilwoman
Macintosh, yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, yes. Mayor Whitfield, yes. Now, council, I'd like to ask if there is any um suggestions for removal from resolutions for removal from a consent
agenda. All right. Seeing none, I'd like to make a motion for a consent agenda for resolutions 2025-145 through 2025-171. So moved. Second.
It's been moved by Councilwoman Heron, seconded by Councilwoman Macintosh. And just for clarity, mayor, it's um resolution 145 148 and then starting from 154 to 171.
To put that on the record, um uh roll call for creating the consent agenda. Councilwoman Peron, yes. Councilman Anderson, yes. Councilwoman Macintosh, yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, yes. Mayor Whitfield, yes. Thank you.
And to approve, I need a motion to approve the consent agenda for resolutions 2025-145, 2025-148, and 2025-154 through 2025-171.
So moved. Second. Moved by Deputy Mayor Worthy, seconded by Councilman Anderson. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron. Yes. Councilman Anderson. Yes. Councilwoman Macintosh. Yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy.
Yes. Mayor Whitel. Yes. Thank you. Um point of order. It seems like the entire virtual component of the meeting has been dis disconnected. Um Mr. Paris, will you be able to confirm?
And while we're in that, Mr. Halt, would you be able to um just explain our uh mandates for holding a public meeting um according to the law?
All meetings have to be noticed and published in the newspaper. They also must be published or posted in conspicuous places. The public must be allowed to attend. The governing body must be visible.
Uh with regard to the necessity of virtual meetings, there's no necessity or directive that you have virtual meetings. However, you are having virtual meetings. So, uh I think it's important that you take
advantage of the opportunity to try and repair whatever um issue is taking place with the virtual meeting. Thank you, Mr. Hall. I think these people have texted they cannot hear what Mr. Halt has just
stated. He had to speak a little bit louder into the microphone. Um, we're going to get the the meeting back up. Yeah, we were waiting for you to come back too. It Zoom is still running. I don't know what the issue is here. They're saying they still can they still live and can hear? They can hear but not
see. Is that what you're saying? No, they can see both. Okay. Okay. All right. Maybe that's why couldn't hear Mr. Hope. Okay. Thank you, Councilman Pron. All right, moving along to our treasures
report. There's none at this time. And madame clerk for the approval of minutes. Can I get a motion in a second to approve the regular meeting and executive session meeting minutes from June 3rd? So move.
Second. It's been moved by Councilwoman Macintosh, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Councilwoman Peron. Oh, discussion. Any discussion on the
minute? No. Seeing none, roll call to speak online. I said that they're raising their hands. I'm just letting you know. So again, um, our IT person just stated that the program, whatever the program is that connects the Zoom to the monitors just kind of did its own
update and is in the middle of updating the issue. So how are they able to still hear us if they're if it's updating? Because Zoom is still running. So they are seeing and hearing us through Zoom. We're just not seeing it on the screen. Program that connects, okay, to these
monitors is updating. So that's why the disconnection is in here. Oh, it's not that's it's our software, not the zoom. Yeah. Um, we're in the middle of a motion. This roll call is for the minutes.
Councilwoman Peron, yes. Councilman Anderson, yes. Councilwoman Mintosh, yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, yes. Mayor Whitfield, yes. Thank you. And Madame Clerk, for your updates. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, I only have
a couple things to report this evening. I know it was a full full agenda. Um, the first thing I wanted to touch on was our primary election was last Tuesday, June 10th. I believe things personally from a clerk's perspective ran a lot smoother than the November election. Um,
the county added two noticeable features that I believed helped open communication with technical problems that arose during the day. They added a hotline specifically for municipal clerks that um, someone was always manning. so any municipal clerk could call if there was an emergency. Um, and
then they also added a ticketing system on the e- pole books to allow pole workers to enter their problems which just got the problem to it faster and they could track the problems. Um, so that was very helpful. Um, on the early voting side, I wanted to give a shout
out to Mr. Harris and public works um for fixing the AC in the library during the early election. The first couple days was a little hot. Um but after that um all of the pole workers were very thankful and appreciative for all the work we did in that room. Um and they
said it got a lot better throughout the week. Um as of yesterday the unofficial count for the election, these are numbers that I got on off the Burlington County election site. Um anyone can go and see these. They're not the official count. There's still a couple of vote by
mail and ballots that are coming in, but um these are The numbers I have so far, 654 votes were cast during early election um for just primary election. I know there was a bigger number on the screen during
the library that was for both elections. Um 300 3542 votes were cast on election day. 14 were provisional ballots. 2,999
vote by mail mail ballots were issued. 725 vote by mail ballots were received back. Um this is a total of 5,921 ballots that have been cast and recorded as of now, which is about a 23% turnout
rate. Um again, these are unofficial numbers. You can go and um on the Burlington County website and they you can kind of watch them update it. They I should be getting the actual uh official numbers in the next like two weeks.
Um, Bovianx came and took our first fade of records for digitization last Thursday. That was really exciting. They were able to take about eight long banker boxes and 10 filing cabinets worth of records to digitize. Um, they'll be returning within two to three weeks to go over the new filing system
and they'll bring all the records back. Um, and then for solicitors in town, right now there's no new solicitors since the last meeting. So, the approved solicitors in town right now are three people from Allied Experts, one person
from Home Solutions, one person from Green Exterior Solutions, one person from Homesmart, 11 people from EcoShield, three people from Top Topline Roofing, and one person from the Fruit of Islam, which is a nonprofit license. And that is all I have at this time,
Madam Mayor. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Any questions for our clerk? Seeing none, um we have no unfinished business at this time. And um or I'll say for unfinished
business, we will you have received in your packet um some information on the resolution of need and HMFA pilot resolution. Um we will be discussing those in executive session this evening.
Um no new business at this time. I have new business. Councilwoman Prime. Yes, thank you. Um I do want to say this this technology piece is unacceptable. Um this has not been the first nor second time Mr. Harris. I understand our technology department had um left, but
we do need to have additional plan another plan like this is not working. Um I've never seen this much interruption at the meeting um since we came back from CO. So um if we can do something Mr. Harris for the next meeting. Something different. I don't
know what's going on, but people have their hand raised to speak. And unfortunately, although you're saying, Gary, they can hear us. They can see us. Can the IT guy see who has their hand raised? And if he would promote them, can they speak? Will we or is that not
happening? It's a question. Does it work that way or no? And again, as I was sharing, the software that connects this to to Zooming and he just If it doesn't finish updating before public comment, people won't be able to speak. Uh, for some
reason, it is causing the computer to to freeze and I can't control the mouse. I agree. Um, this is an inconvenience. Um, but who knew this was going to happen? And we did go out to bid for managed IT
services. Uh, we received those bids back on Friday. uh we will be reviewing the responses and hopefully we will have an IT company in place for you to vote on by the next meeting in July. And I'd just like to add that our IT department
is working really diligently to try to rectify this issue. Um, I've completed weddings at about 2:30 this afternoon and our IT uh staff was in the room setting up the room for the meeting tonight and has been working on that um
since about 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. So, they are trying really diligently to make sure that there's access. you still can um see and hear the meeting online, but according to um the law and the
sunshine ruling and um those things, we are um only mandated to notice for the meeting and to conduct the meeting in public um where the public can see us and is able to attend. Uh am I correct, Mr.
and make comments. Um the online piece is not a mandatory feature. Um this council has made an effort to provide the most access um really than any other organization in town um for residents to
participate in meetings. Traditionally, we do offer the in-person, the online, you can dial in, you can even participate from online, which some meetings do not allow you to do that. Um and the meeting is streamed and
publicized uh afterwards so that you can go back and rewatch which some organizations in town also don't do that. So we are doing our best to provide the best the best access to our public meetings. Um, this is an unfortunate and inconvenient event that
has happened that is out of our control for this meeting, but we will continue to stay in compliance here um, and host the meeting in the public. Councilwoman Pon, you had new business?
I do. Um and my new business is pertaining to um I was actually going to bring this up much earlier in the meeting, but we had so much to um award our different recognizance uh people received awards, but this is pertaining to um I'm calling a point of order um
but it is new. Um this is regarding to uh Councilwoman Tiffany Worthy. She attended a school board meeting um two weeks ago and has accepted a contract for preschool education program. Um she was awarded the contract to all things
possible. Tiffany Worthy, Councilman Worthy is a sitting councilwoman and according to NJSA4A9-22.5. Council member or family member is financially involved with the company holding a contract. The member must disclose their interest. They must recuse themselves from discussion,
negotiations, or votes. Accepting any form of financial gain or using insider information to benefit, such as meeting with the superintendent to benefit the contract business, can result in violations of NJSA489-22.5 and even criminal criminal penalties.
With that stated, and there is much more, Councilman Worthy, and I will share with you that you are in violation at this time, and you need to make a choice. No different than I told Miss Jacqueline Jennings. She cannot sit on council and vote herself to the MUA. You cannot sit on council and get awarded to the school district whereby we take the
taxpayers money and pay them and then they take the money and give it to you for your daycare. That is unethical and I'm not going to be quiet about it. So you have to choose Tiffany Worthy. You have to decide you reject the contract or you step down from the council seat. And this is a public notice that so
that's way you are aware that's my new business. Thank you Councilwoman Peron. Any further comment? Any further new business? Seeing none, this is the open public comment for um general comments. This
public comment will be for four minutes each. Please come up to the mic. State your name and address. This public comment is for general items. Public comment is now open. Hello, my name is Annne Raposarda. I live Wellington Drive in Lumberton, New
Jersey. Um, we've met before. I'm the vice president of the Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter. I'm hoping you listen to our organization with open minds and open hearts. As you may recall, we are a nonprofit organization that raises over a half a
million a year to support the county animal shelter. We pay all their advanced medical dog training, provide foster care, lowcost spay and neuter, community cat management, and many other expenses that the county is not able to provide. By doing so, we help reduce the
burden of these costs on taxpayers in Willingboro and other towns throughout the county. We are working very hard to get our county animal shelter to a nokill status and speaking to all the towns in our county. Stopping the needless intake of healthy cats to the
county shelter through working with us on progressive approaches with proven results is a prime way to help. We are really happy to report that we've had many positive developments on this front with other towns throughout our county, but unfortunately we cannot include
Willing Barrow at this time. I've been to many town meetings throughout this county over the last few years, and I thought it very interesting that this is the only town I've spoken at that brings up God at your meetings. You even have a prayer at the start of your meetings.
And yet, here we are trying to help God's innocent creatures, the cats outside in your town, because humans have failed them in some way. And it doesn't appear anyone is interested in putting words and beliefs into compassionate action. A belief in God
should apply to everything. At least it does for me. That is one reason I care so deeply about the animals in need in your community. We had a private meeting with some of you and presented facts that Willing Burrow is the second highest town for dumping cats at our
shelter. Not a great honor to say the least, especially when it results in some of them getting killed. Last year, 183 cats were dumped at the shelter with 113 of them being kittens. TNVR trapneuter vaccinate and return is
sorely needed in your town. We understand your town administrator does not like this approach. However, when he referred the manner the matter to the elected members of the council, we did not hear any further response from you. This proposed ordinance is to properly
regulate the process and encourage people to fix these cats, not just feed them. It is also providing additional safety for our volunteers already trying to help. We are here asking again for your attention to this matter and to
support our efforts. It comes at no cost to your town beyond what you already currently are paying for. I am asking if you all will do what so many of your co colleagues are already doing in other towns in our county and around the state. Our members living and working in
your town would like an answer from an elected official. Can we get some commitment to move forward with this in a way that benefits all of us? We would really appreciate that. Thank you, Miss Repres. Thank you.
Any other public comment? Marian Coell, 103 Manor Lane. I'm here tonight because of um animal cruelty and Willing Barl's inability to do anything positive about it. I have um the for
three years I've been witnessing one of my neighbors uh animal abuse and it's so severe it violates New Jersey Assembly Bill A803. Without going into detail, it's he has
two animals, two dogs, keeps them for several months, severe cruelty under this bill, and then he um or he or the resident uh gets rid of them few months later gets two more dogs and same
abusive, you know, behavior. I finally when the fourth one came about a month and a half fourth situation came about a month and a half ago I called I uh wrote um my citizens report to the Willingboro police and I didn't hear anything back
so I was so upset cuz I can I witnessed this it's very close to my house a second police uh citizen report no response then a third one in within the same week because I'm I'm past this house all the time this time the police Um, oh, then I I spoke to a lawyer
friend of mine and he said, "The police don't want to be bothered. That's not their business. Call animal control." So, I found animal control, called them. They told me to to ask for the humane enforcement officer in Willing Barrow. I called Willing Barrow police again and I
was told there is no humane enforcement officer in Willing Barrow. and for me to call the animal control officer again. I called her the same number back again. And she says, "It's the police have to take care of it." She says, "We don't have any um we can't do any enforcement.
We can't do any investigation because we don't have guns. We don't have protective gear. We don't know where we're coming into." I says, "Can you report this to your higher authority?" She says, "No, we're not a reporting agency either." So I said, "What do you do?" And she just kept quiet. So
meanwhile, one of the police officers did call me back and he to was very polite called, you know, took my information, said he would investigate. Uh then he did call me back later that night, but this
this family snowed him under because that what he was reporting back to me was not true. And so I and it's not his job to investigate. We should have a humane enforcement officer. And then I researched New Jersey law says we ha
each municipality and police department under New Jersey law is required to designate a municipal humane law enforcement officer. Now our t our budget that was uh approved in uh
in April has the same um contract with the New Jersey animal control. So, we are paying about $60,000 in taxpayers money for this very inefficient and our team because the woman said they have a
team and yet their team does not do any investigation. They do not do any reporting. And meanwhile, the when the policeman called me that night, this is just less than a week ago, uh, he told
um it's like the the the family was mocking him publicly. Then they got another dog and they're putting they moved them from the big cage, which is not a big cage, to a little cage that the dogs the top of their ca uh their head touches top of the cage. And then
he kept them in there. And then he it rained that night. He he covered the next day the the little cage with the two dogs was covered with a plastic sheet. You couldn't even see if there was any dogs in there. But three days later, one of the sides was open. One
dog in there. Anyhow, Mrs. Cavllo, your time is up. I'm sorry, ma'am. I just wanted to report this because we are paying for a very inefficient team and it is law. Thank you for your comment. Any other public comment?
Good evening again. I'm Pat Lindsey Harvey Medford Lane. Uh want to thank council on behalf of WCDC. We're looking forward to uh restoring the pictorial house. We've done a lot of work on as far as history is concerned. So we're looking forward to that. Uh second
comment is um we hear about a lot about u one willing brawl. So I want to make a suggestion to council. I want to make a suggestion that you uh host a meeting with all the autonomous entities um to meet together and to talk about um the wants and needs and desires of our
residents with reference to uh programs and services. Um it should be something that's very collaborative um that we can work together instead of working in silos which apparently we all working in now um which sometimes results in
duplication of efforts. So if we're all working together, we're all working on different things versus, you know, doing the same things. Um, and then I think in that sense we can get even more programs and more services. Thank you. Thank you,
Miss Lindsy Harvey. Next. Good evening. My name is Kimberly Sked. I live at 213rd Avenue, Robing, New Jersey. I'm also part of the friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter and I come at this from the perspective of
I'm part of the team in the shelter working with staff desperately trying to find savable lives among the cats. Once we get into March and April, the deluge of kittens comes in and we are literally
drowning in kittens and we have a foster program that doubles capacity of the of the shelter to get those into foster homes. But stray cats really once they hit around four months old, they really
are very hard to get into foster care and they're very hard to assess whether it's a socialized animal that's just afraid in a very scary environment or if it's truly unsocialized and feral. We try to get these animals out however we
can. We try to work with staff, work with the cats in the cages, which is not always safe. We try to work with animals in rooms if they're seeming like maybe it's a cage problem. Um, and we continuously are working among ourselves
comparing notes on these animals. But the reality is is that many of these animals have nowhere to go. We try to have animals go to barns. Barn owners don't want straight up feral animals either. And so, you know, we are trying
on a seven-day turnaround to save lives. And once those kittens come in, volunteers, attention goes to kittens. So, I'm really hoping that something like a TNR uh program can come into Willingboro
because it's an important piece of saving lives and also cutting the congestion of animals. A straight cat can start reproducing at four months old. And she can have litters of up to six to eight kittens every single
litter. And that can happen up to four times a year. And then those babies are making babies. And it's just something that explodes without neutering these animals. So, it's part of a multi-prong approach of helping people keep their
animals when they're in distress, helping people understand the importance of staying and neutering their pets so that they don't have unwanted unintended pregnancies, helping to deal with the animals in the building so that we can find those
savable animals and get them adopted into loving homes. helping with finding homes for the less socialized animals such as in barns where some of them can, you know, find a job, not need to deal
with people, be productive, keep down rodents, that sort of thing. So, I really do hope that you would be willing to have a dialogue with us to see if there's a way that trap neutro's
legacy. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Scad. How you doing? Good evening. 28 Patunia. Um, I'm coming here to kind of clear up some issues and concerns that council may or may not have or uh I don't know who has the main concerns. It seems like
the township manager. Um there's information being um spewed about us that we're violating our permits. Um the only permit we've ever put in here is a NBC permit that has been denied by you guys. We never put in a special use
permit to um to allow us to have events at our at our facility. I don't know why it's continued to be um misconstrued that these two pieces of paper are the same. They are not the same. They hold different value. Um we
continue to get denied for uh our social affairs for different accusations that aren't true. We're dealing with the issues with the taxes that's going through whatever you guys are going to deal with. talk to us about um the noise
complaints. Uh we've had 26 noise complaints. 16 are uh have no validity at all. The cops came said nothing was going on. The other 10 times they came, they never had to come
back. I don't understand what the issue or problem is. There's been no communication open between you guys or whoever it is that has the problem. continue to be emails about us. There was an event said that it was supposed to be at our facility where it clearly
stated that the event was at a undisclosed location. Could have just paid the $10. Would have told you where the event was. You would have known that it wasn't at our facility. So, we're just trying to open the doors to find out how we can be in compliance. Everything that you guys have asked us
to do, we've done. So, I don't know how we can resolve the issues, the attacks, the in St. Adams. I don't know what the issue is, but if we can res Thank you, Mr. Coleman. Hello. Good evening. I'm Emily Randall
at 6 Marbor Lane and I would just like to be possibly a new voice in regard to advocating for the trap neuter release program for the Burlington County Animal Shelter. I actually just recently moved uh into Willingboro as of March. I have lived in four different states. And to
say that I've only been here since March, and the amount of stray cats that I've seen in this area is quite remarkable. Um maybe not in the best way. Um I went to the animal shelter. I like to volunteer at local animal shelters as much as they can. And I went
and asked the question about what could be done. Um I was told about the trap meter vaccinate program and that unfortunately not active approved in Willing Bro. So, I just wanted to come be a new voice uh for your consideration for approval to have it here. It's not
very fun to have stray cats around your area when you want to put flower beds in and you find cat poop and it smells like cat pee around your house when you come home from work and you see stray cats everywhere. I've seen at least four dead cats on the side of the road or in the middle of the street and I know nobody
really wants to see that. Um, so it's something that's been on my mind and I heard about the council meeting today and I felt compelled to come and speak about it. So, thank you for the opportunity. Thank you, Miss Randall. Good evening. Good evening. My name is
Sila Hansen and I live at 467 West Country Club Drive in Westampton, New Jersey. I am a volunteer and board member for FOBS. I gave you u my spiel when we were here once before, so I'm not going to bore you with it, but I'm
going to ask everyone who's come in support of TNBR, please stand up so that they can see just how important it is to your constituents. This is something that we're trying to solve. I personally
have seen it work in my own backyard. So, we're asking Once again, please look at the ordinances that we can give you as drafts. We know that this works. We're trying to help the situation and you can see that there are a lot of
people who are really really have heartfelt feelings about um trying to solve this problem. There's a lot of time spent on this and we just asking you to help us. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Hansen.
Good evening. Brian Hackett, one Laurel Court, Wrightstown, New Jersey. Uh, first I just want to make a mention. Uh, at one time in my life I was on your side of the Deis and I know sometimes it's a thankless job. So I think on behalf of all of us, I want to thank you
all for your service to the town and for listening to us with an open heart and an open mind. Um, in my personal life here in Burlington County as a resident, I work with and support FOBS on these uh issues. And in my professional life, I
work every day with municipalities around the state on these very matters. Um, currently I'm working with the city of Newark on the exact same issue. Um, I'm glad to say that they're going to be moving forward with the TNVR ordinance for the entire city of Newark. Uh, Essex
County Commissioners fund it $200,000 a year. This is something that's happening virtually everywhere. Um, unfortunately at the moment, Willingboro is an exception in um, not fully participating in this. And um, you know, there's been
some discussion tonight about important updates being made to your local ordinances in various ways, shapes, and forms. And I have reviewed the uh, codes on animals, and um, this is no criticism to anyone. And I see this a lot around
the state in my work, but there's some parts of it that severely need updating. Um, there's references to animals born in 1976 in the code. So, I don't think parts of it have been updated since some of us have not been alive for 50
years. So, um, or we were babyed. in they go to a clinic. It's a subsidized program where Bobcat is paying for part of it. Public is paying for part of it. It's not any kind of tax dollars, anything like that. Um the cats come back, get basic medical care, and
get released. Um however, we see so many kittens come in and everybody loves babies, but these guys are sick and injured and dying. um their either their mother wasn't taking care of them, their mother got trapped, maybe got sent to the shelter,
didn't make it out, things along those lines. So, CMVR really doesn't come at any cost to any any of the taxpayers. Um we have we're all volunteer ran. People are very compassionate about saving these animals, improving the lives of
the animals as well. Um it you know providing the food and water and shelter to these animals is one thing but getting them spayed neutered it's babies making babies out there and it just perpetuates the problem. So introducing some ordinances where this would be
allowed to come in to trap these cats get them fixed and release them back to live a happy life. Um you know and not make any more babies not make any more problems. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Bar. Hi, my name is Janice Lutton and I'm
from Hannesport Township and um I just want a different perspective on this. In 2018, Hannesport passed an ordinance and that opened a door for a group of volunteers. We're called Hannesport Community Cats. Um and it makes it
possible for us to to do fundraising to educate the township um residents at different events on the um importance of spay and neuter for their pets of um of if you're feeding to fix them and
because we're able to do fundraising um people will call me and have they've been feeding but they didn't know what to do like they just felt like oh I see this poor cat it's in the winter I want to feed it and then now they have two cats four cats eight cats And you know,
the last place I trapped there was 13 cats and kittens. And um but because the ordinance is there, it allows us to be public with fundraising and helping residents who just out of the goodness of their heart are feeding cats and
don't know what to do to get them fixed. Um so I just from Hesport's point of view, it was a very good thing for the ordinance to be passed for our town. Thank you. My name is Robert Mason, 121 Hobbrook Lane, Bowling Brow. I'm the president of
Elite Social Club. Um, just like TNR, I'm here because we reached out to the council. I personally sent several emails and have not received a response back and I'm trying to figure out where is the disconnect with the council that nobody's reaching back to us or TNR when
there's matters in this community that would like to be resolved. Um, in my emails I've stated that township manager has I am expressing my concerns. The township manager has been
overzealous to operations of our club. There has been false accusations and we're trying to get to the bottom of it. numerous police reports of false claims.
There has been accusations of tax information that's untrue. There has been just several things that have been untrue that the township mayor has put
out about us. And just like TNR, I don't want to bring well, we will have to bring community members to voice these problems if we're not getting any messages back from the council. And all I'm asking is that somebody reach back out to us to tell us what are the issues
are going on and not just leave our emails unheard. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mason. Hi, my name is Lissa Gellman. I'm 15 Med Lane. I came out in support of the TNR as well. Um, I've read a lot about it.
I've seen a lot of things happen with it. It is a great program. It does help cats. I know in my backyard uh well actually my neighbors backyard are more lane um that the shed attracts a lot of cats and and some of the other neighbors
um elderly people mostly feed the cats. So we wind up with colonies of cats every year. Last year 16 cats were removed from the uh from the yard um behind ours um and sent to the shelter. A lot of them did not make it out. Um it
does just a lot more to put them in a shelter and euthanize them than it does to do the um trap neut release program. It eventually does release uh reduce the amount of cats and around. And also I have two dogs that I frequently can't
let stay in the backyard because they are barking at the cats that are always coming through our yards and tormenting them as well. Some of them are a little more assertive and they're not afraid of my dogs. So, um, and I'm worried about
what they carry as well. Um, so that was my what I wanted to talk about on that. One of my neighbors, one of my other neighbors that lived on Manor Lane addressed an issue with um a house that has uh a terrible conditions for their
dogs. And they do they take these large pit bulls and they put them in a very tiny cage that holds two dog houses. and there's just barely enough room for the dogs to turn around. So, I don't know who I'm supposed to speak to about that,
but I would like to get involved on that one as well. So, if somebody can tell me who to go to and talk in a more informed way and not babble, I I'd be happy to hear that as well. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Gman.
Any other public comment? Good evening. I'm Susan Mccardi from Lumberton Township, also a FOBcast member since 2016. Um, uh, one of my things that I do is foster kittens and probably a lot of them from Willingboro.
Um, the biggest impact that I have seen with TNR is I've worked the five years with my vet, actually more than that because she does a lot of outreach to educate people about um keeping their animals, keeping
them healthy, having them fixed. And for the past five years, I've worked with a TNR program in honor of a little girl, 27year-old vette, that died trying to save a feral cat. She was killed. So we honor her every year by trapping, having
trappers come in. And we've probably in the five years, we've probably stayed near 500 animals, it has greatly reduced the population. And if we can, if the vets and vet techs and volunteers can come together and
donate their time and we can donate money and food to help to get these animals trapped, then a free program that we can provide to your township would be really beneficial to these animals. So, I'm asking you to really
consider this. And it is important. These are God's creatures. Thank you. Thank you, Miss McCartney. Good evening. My name is Kate Brown. I live at 2153 Old York Road in Bordontown or Florence Township. Um, you know, I
think you've heard from the rest of my colleagues with Friends of Burlington County Animal Shelter how important this is to us and and what a difference it can make in your township. Um, you know, the numbers speak for themselves and I see it also on our um our emails that come in with residents requesting help
with I have stray cats, my neighbor has cats, there's kittens, what do I do? It's it's endless, especially this time of year. Um, but we really need your help to address this problem. Um, I've seen myself the benefits of it trapping in other colonies and um in other parts of the county and I've seen the horrors
of sick kittens and things like that. It's no good for anyone. And um you've heard some of the concerns from your residents about the overpopulation as well. Some of the um you know lifestyle impacts that it can have on them as well as the cats themselves. I think this is
mutually beneficial and and the last thing I just want to say is that friends is coming to you with solutions, not just problems. and I hope that you'll take that opportunity to um kind of make it an easy fix and let us help you
address this problem that's undeniable in the township. Thank you for listening to us. Thank you. Good evening. Um, I am also here with the people. Can you please state your name and address? Sorry. My name is Isabelle Feiner and I live in Delran on
Waterford Drive. Um, I am here with the people supporting TNR. Um, I'm graduating in two days. I'm going to college. I'm spending the majority of my time in Willingboro trapping cats.
Have you ever had to explain to a young child in the car why there is a cat dead on the side of the road, organs out, leg missing? If you haven't, I am very happy for you because it is
not an easy conversation to have. There are plenty of deer on the side of the road, possums, raccoons, skunks, and you see them when you pass and do not care because There are so many animals like that all over New Jersey. There is
overpopulation. Guess what will happen when you continue to let the cat population get out of control? You will see more cats and you will have to explain to your daughter, to your son, to your niece, to your nephew why there is a cat that looks like your
house cat on the side of the road and how it's different because they live outside, so they have a shorter lifespan. Do you know how hard it is for a six-year-old to comprehend that? It is mortifying. I have spoken to the neighbors and the people living in Willing. Some of them
are happy about the cats because they deal with the rat problem. They deal with um deterrence for the birds. Some of them hate them because they poop in their flower beds. And many of them do not know what to do
about the problem because it is unbelievably difficult to make a change because there are no ordinances to help us. I am 18 years old and I am spending every day after school for several hours until nightfall doing this. And my mom
always tells me, "What are you doing? Why are you spending your graduation money on getting these cats fixed and vaccinated? Who else is going to do it? Who else is going to help me with this? Do you want to know what she said?
Nothing. Because she knows that there is nothing to help right now. So, we renovated our room into a kennel. I have 13 kittens from Willing Brow right now. I have five adults. Three of them were just brought to PetSmart to
help get it adopted. This is not my job. And I recognize that there are plenty of other issues you guys have to deal with. Colleagues making bad choices, going against every law in the book, big
golf fundraisers. I've seen them all. I I heard them. I was here. I was listening. But this is a problem. They are living beings. And if you do not care about them, if you are not a cat person, fine. Look at it from a different perspective. They will harbor
diseases. They will continue to make problems. They will give you a reason to have to have that conversation with your daughter, with your son, with your niece, with your nephew. Mom, why is there a cat that looks like Mr. Whiskers on the side of the road?
No child should have to deal with that conversation. No child should have to wrestle with those emotions. Yet, they do because of that overpopulation. We need to make a difference. There are plenty of issues. This is one of them.
This is your job. Not my job. My job is to go to college and get a degree. But I'm going to Stockton. I'm going an hour and a half away and I'm probably going to have to come back on the weekends because you guys will not take advantage of this opportunity before it gets too late. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Finer. Good evening. Thank you for listening to all of us. I My name is Jade Cole and I'm at 15 Ginger Lane and I am here in support of the TNR program. Um since I joined FOBcast in 2020, I have assisted
aided wrapped 96 cats in Willingboro. And I love cats. I understand that not everybody loves cats and that's okay. Um, and if you don't love cats and if you're not concerned about the health issues, and if it's just really not
something that you care about, I have stories about the people that I work with. It's it's it's bigger than a cat problem. It's a people issue. I've met people who have lost adult children. I I've met people who have um had adult
children with injuries. I've had people who widows, widowers. The cats are their only family. That's it. That that's that's it. And they're going to continue to feed these cats and they're going to hide it. And they're not going to reach out for help because they're afraid the
cats are going to be taken to the shelter. The cats are going to be killed. I had one person say, "Promise me. Promise me this cat is coming back." It's it's it's it's more than just the cats. It's the people. And they don't they're afraid. And they're not going to
stop because sometimes in some cases this is all these people have. This is their family and there's no other way for them to to get love or feel love. And there's a lot this town is nice. It's great. There's a lot of things going on. There's people who they
themselves have some sort of anxiety. They can't go out and they can't socialize with other people. And the taking not taking advantage of what Fabcast is offering is quite frank. just silly. It's It's silly. They're saying,
"Hey, this is happening anyway. We're going to help you do it and we're going to clear this up." And having these cats as a colony, once they're fixed, they will not allow other cats to come in. When wait when when acco takes these colony out of a person's backyard, out
of the streets, and brings it to the shelter, other cats move in. a a a male cat will travel up to six miles if he thinks he can get females. And that's going to happen. But if you have a fixed colony, there's no females there to
attract these males coming from other places. There's there's uh they won't even allow them just to come eat because there's only enough food for them. And so again, council members, thank you very much for this, but please please listen and listen. It's not just a cat
problem. It's a people issue and that's some small way that you can help people who are unable to get out of the house. They're unable to um make these social connections that they need. The they're they're feeling this love from these cats. And whether you like cats or not,
how they feel, this is how this person feels. And I have I can go I can talk to you for 10 years about these all these different families that I met. So, please um thank you for listening and and please take advantage of this podcast uh offer. Thank Thank you, Miss
Clarence. Hi, my name is Stephanie Strulia and I'm at 24 Tinker Drive in Mount Holly. Um, I just want to share my experience as a volunteer with the friends of the Bronte County Animal Shelter. I've been helping residents in Willingboro for the last
five years rescue cats. Um, it's not always been a good outcome. Sometimes it is and sometimes it's not. Um, but I just feel like this is a really good opportunity to help tackle this incredibly
um, enormous problem. It's not just a problem here, but many of the residents don't want cats mating in their backyards. They don't want injured cats. They want nothing to do with them. They just want them removed. And it's not that simple of a solution. But we are
bringing solutions to help reduce the population. And that's really the only way it's going to stop. And so we really, really hope that you'll take advantage of this and work with us. We appreciate your consideration. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Australia.
Hello. Hello. Um, my name is Cindy Kasov and I live at 90D Arrowhead Drive in Burlington. I have to say I hate public speaking, so it says a lot that I'm up here. Um, I have been a FOBcast volunteer since it start for around 14
or 15 years. Um, I currently hold a lot of positions. I do accounts payable. I am the entertainment committee for our events. Um I do coin box collections. I walk dogs. I do some TNR. Um I'm proud
to be part of Fabcast and believe in our mission to help as many homeless animals as possible. The stray cat problem is a huge issue, especially in Willingboro and and for the county shelter and its staff to have to deal with the problems
that are created. I don't believe anybody would want to have to work there on a daily basis with the overcrowding experienced uh during kitten season. Not to mention the obvious, having to euthanize healthy cats because they were
born outside and not socialized. The shelter does amazing job, but they are exhausted on a daily basis. You can help them by allowing healthy community cats to be fixed in return. Also, by encouraging your residents to fix the strays that are already that they're
already feeding. Ignoring the situation isn't working. Somebody needs to take responsibility and try to elevate Willingboro to be a more friendly town, animal friendly town. Please don't let animal cruelty be
your legacy. Thank you. Thank you. All right. If there's no further public comment, good evening and former resident of Written House Park. I live in Willingboro. I mean, I
live in Morristown currently. Um I have recently become a volunteer. And I am sitting here thinking to myself, who else comes to you and says, we will do this for you. We're not
asking any of you to spend any more of your time or your effort or your money to put this program into place. How many times does a town have somebody come to you and say, "Let us help you." How many
times do you have to go find people to do something? And I think you will be shocked at the amount of people that are in your town that actually would be supporting it. Nobody wants cats pooping and peeing in their yards. I used to
live in uh off of uh on Written House Drive and Written House Park. Like I said, every time it was cat season, there would be just nothing but cats under my windows every single night having fights. And these are cats practically killing each other, you
know, just killing each other for survival, for for territory. Um, as one of the other um volunteers mentioned, people think that, uh, oh, I have these cats in my backyard. Let me just trap them and take them, you know, 10 miles
from my house and then dump them in somebody else's neighborhood, which now those colonies will kill that cat because he doesn't belong there. You can't just pick cats up and move them someplace else and make them somebody else's problem. And what we're doing
here is we're bringing something to you. I I can't I just can't even understand it. If a vendor walked into my business tomorrow and said, "I will give you this for free. I'll do this consulting for you, which I normally charge $250 or
$350 an hour for, and I'm going to come to your town and I'm going to do it for you for free. I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm going to do everything. What would I say? I would say, "Sure, that's a smart business decision." So, I'm asking you to look at it not from,
"Do you like cats? Do you hate dogs? Do you do this? Do you do that?" I'm sure probably some of you have at least dogs. And if you could picture your dog being born with five or six litter mates and now picture 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 of them
being out in the woods on their own by themselves. Uh last year I uh was driving down uh 295 and I had to send a text. So I said to be safe, let me just pull into this hotel parking lot. And so I pulled into the hotel parking lot in
Bordon Town where the Love's truck stop is where there are probably hundreds of cat colony. Hundreds of cats. Okay. Um I p literally pull into the parking lot just sitting in my car sending my text and the next thing I
know it's like a commercial. There are literally no less than 50 or 60 or 70 cats surrounding my car. So, a man walks out of the hotel and I said, "What is going on here?" And he said, "Oh, you have the same car as a woman who comes
and feeds them. If if if you would just let us come in and trap these cats, I I just don't understand why you wouldn't let us in. We We're here to help. It doesn't cost anything. And like I said, you would you know who would
refuse free help for that's this important. Thank you. Thank you. At this time, public comment is now closed. Um we'll address some of the public
comment. Um we'll start with uh Mr. Harris, would you be able to have Chief Bucks uh come up and talk about the animal abuse issues or um our humane officers through uh our contract, New Jersey
animal control, they believe have two or three Hilo officers that are authorized to investigate animal control. And within our police department, we have a minimum of three detectives, possibly a fourth that are also certified as uh as HILOS. And they uh they have the ability
to to do those investigations. Um and they have done that. The the lady that came up here and spoke earlier, she had to leave. I gave her my business card and I told her to call me tomorrow so we can have further discussions and I can get her to the right point of contact to move forward.
Okay. Thank you, Chief Books. And if I if I may can add on to that, uh she did mention I believe it was Miss Marian. Um she did mention that there are statutes regarding animal control services and Willingboro is in compliance with all of the state
statutes requiring animal control services. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Um we also had Pat Lindseay Harvey. Thank you for um your service with the CDC and we look forward to the progress
that we'll be making on the revitalization of the futuro house through theou. Um also I will um take back that request for a group meeting and um work to set something up for the
entire community. Um, also we had Daryl Coleman and Robert Mason um from Diamond Dogs and Elite 609. Thank you for coming to this meeting. I have received your emails. I
um was under the impression that the tax issue was being investigated by our tax assessor and there were other uh requests and um I guess points that were
being evaluated by the planning board um that they were working on that the chair of the planning board as well as uh some of the administration. So, I will find out what's going on in that piece and I will um contact you to update you on the status of that.
All right. We also had a number of uh folks from FOBcast uh advocating for the TNVR um issue. I'll say thank you um all for coming and uh voicing your opinion and
your stance on the issue here at our meeting tonight. Um we are still reviewing the TMVR ordinance, but I'm sure as you can understand there are some other issues um that are wrapped
within that. Um it's not just you know a free program that uh will benefit the town. there are some unintended consequences of that program um that we are evaluating and making sure um that are beneficial. And also as a minority
majority community um it it does bring some angst to our residents to have trappers walking on their properties coming and um you know doing things. So, we just want to make sure that the ordinance that we pass is in line um
with supporting not only the trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release of the animals, but also protects our residents safety and privacy um and uh is doing what's best in the general uh
for Willingboro. So, we understand your concern. We understand your urgency. I am continuing to meet with administration as well as our police department to make sure that we develop a TNVR ordinance um that works for
Willingboro. This is not shelved. This is not off the table. We are working on a TMVR ordinance. So, give us a little bit of time and we will pass it uh or we will put it up for consideration of council.
Um, were there any other things that I missed? Um, I think you captured everything, but I did want to comment on a few of these items. Councilwoman, thank you. So, with regards to the
the trap and neuter, um, I know you said that we're working on the ordinance. I didn't see anything come through the Who's working on it exactly? It's under review with the administration, with our chief of police, and we're um and legal. Okay. And I know you mentioned that um
some of the concerns I only heard one. I was going to ask you what are the what are the concerns because I haven't had a discussion with anyone about it. I remember that they came to the council meeting and I saw the emails, but I thought we would have a discussion about it. So, um, one of the concerns you said
is, um, other people's privacy, but our animals are supposed to have leashes on them to identify their home. So, as long as that animal, in this particular case, it's cats, has a leash with the owner's residence, then the other ones that
don't have one, they would be the cats that would be neutered. So, I just would like for us to have a real like some sort of like you we just you gave me a we went over a draft of the township manager salary. I mean, sorry, deputy mayor's deputy manager's position. That
was really fast. But I've yet to see anything come before regarding these cats and this is the second time that they came here. So, I don't have an issue by my house because I do have dogs. But um that is if they're offering the service, I think we should do a
little bit more to really give them a response. And I think just saying that we're working on it. Um I think at this point it's a little bit unacceptable as far as I'm concerned because I did not respond to your email. And just so you know, the reason why we don't all respond is because one, we're not allowed to. It's like a it's like a
email meeting if we're all responding on the emails. I do rely on the deputy mayor or the mayor to respond. And then at this session, at this setting, I'm expecting that we would get back information. And if this ordinance is being worked on, I should have received a draft or something no different than
the draft that I received today about adding the deputy mayor and making him the deputy manager, you know. So, that's that. um with and councilwoman Pon just to respond to that um the sample TNVR
ordinance has been provided before in a previous package. I have not not been working on this. Um I have met with the officials from FOBcast before as well. I I met with um Ann represatada as well as
Brian Hackett I believe um and they've also had conversation with the township manager. So, it's not just um word speak of we're working on it. We are actually doing work on this. And if you'd um like to see the previous TMVR ordinance that
was included in the previous package, I can have that reforwarded. I most certainly would like to see that. I would like to see when it was added and and what level it's at because when we have ordinances, it's ordinance for introduction, then there's second reading, then there's third reading, and there's adjustments made. if it was
already on the in if it was already and there are some that are added under new business or unfinished business um that have not been made it to the actual um resolutions or ordinances for consideration yet. Okay. So, it's not on here because it hasn't been made to
consideration. Yes, it hasn't made it to the agenda for consideration and that's because who's you're working on it? It's still being worked on. Okay. So, maybe we can have an update at the next council meeting how far we are with that. But I want to move along to the other item that with
the elite um uh gentleman that came to speak up uh to the mic, Mr. Mason and Mr. Coleman. Um I did receive emails regarding that matter as well. And Madame Mayor, you know that I called you about it. Um but now that the council is here um where we're
supposed to have these discussions, I'm a little concerned about um some of the um the actions that have been taking place where it seems like they have been preventing they have been prevented from actually having events. Now, some of the concerns that I um the conversations
that I was told uh was that um a third person had uh reserved the space to have an event and that person did not file whatever special permits that they should have done. But and so it kind of reminded me of like VFW. No, not the VFW
for the military's lodge or the JFK center. If you're going to have a party or something, that individual person must file for their special whatever to have it for the township, but we don't necessarily vote on it. All the events that take place at the JFK Center, we
don't vote on that. The JFK Center exists and it it is underneath our ream, right? Fosters exist. It's underneath their ream. If they rent out their space, like the library has rented out their space for some sort of event that they mentioned earlier today, that individual group who's renting a space
must then pertain get a special event permit. However, the elites um social um events place has already completed their documents and that's what I read in the email. They've completed their documents and this is not regarding the tax. This
is regarding them actually holding events. So, and Councilwoman Peron, if you could just hold for a second. Um, I'd like to make a motion to extend the meeting for 30 minutes. The town time is now 9:57.
Um, by our uh regulations, we are supposed to end at 10 p.m. unless we have an extension. So, I'd like to make a motion to extend our meeting for 30 minutes until 10:30.
Is there a second? Oh, a second. With a motion and a second, we'll do roll call. Madam, Councilwoman Peron, yes. Councilman Anderson, Councilwoman Macintosh, Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, yes. Mayor Whitfield, yes. Thank
you. Councilwoman Peron, you can continue. Well, um, so I just find that I think maybe a sitdown meeting with them, um, I just find that they've submitted their documents as far as having events and I don't think that they should be prevented from having
their events or be ignored or not responded to. And um so that's my suggestion that maybe that we invite them in to sit down and talk with us about whatever permits they're supposed to provide and clear up the clear up that that issue where someone else has
reserved the space. No different than Tiffany Worthy's um what is it called? Um Epicenter. When people reserve her space, she doesn't have to come to the council meeting to get it approved. each time that person that individual must meet the the requirements as far as any
uh what do you call it insurance people insurance things like that I had to do it recently for my daughter so why is it why are they being treated differently when it comes to having an event at their location and this is not about serving alcohol because I also know that the JFK center we've had multiple events
where alcohol was there uh cabarets people brought their own alcohol no one was selling alcohol So, I'm not understanding what is the hold up with them and why are they this is being why why is it different for them? Thank you,
Councilwoman Um, it is to to my knowledge that the special events uh permits that they submit are from ABC. Is that correct, uh, Madam Clerk? So, I don't know what if any permits they've
submitted for um special events. There is a permit called a social affairs permit to serve alcohol at your establishment. That is different than any special events permit that might happen at um that we may or may not give
out. Um but on the clerk side, on the ABC side, it's called a social affairs permit. Um and those are the resolutions that come before you. And that is strictly just the out call side of things. Okay? So it doesn't have to do with the special events. Okay. So,
there's haven't been any special events permits. It's just the social affairs permits um from the ABC that have come by. Um and yes, you are correct that they have been denied um unanimously by
the council, not just uh by any one person and there were no abstensions. Um but we will work to make sure that you're folding in. They wouldn't have to do those special affairs permits if they had a liquor license, but their
establishment does not have a liquor license. Fosters Military Lodge does have a liquor license, and that's why they don't have to submit the social affairs permit every time. But like a JFK Center, we don't have a liquor license, but people bring alcohol and they drink alcohol at the JFK Center in the banquet hall. So, I'm kind of seeing
it that same type of a thing. It's not they I think he said that they were denied one. So they're not actually asking for that to be approved. I think it's they were confused about having events. They're trying to have events, but they're not re they haven't received a response from us about the events piece. So social affairs permit and then
social events permit. There's no social event permits. That's social affairs permit. That alcohol that denied for for alcohol. Their most recent one was for social affairs for the ABC was denied. Was denied. I have I don't know their status of any special events permits
from the town. Okay. Because Mr. Harris said that they were I received emails that they were in violation for even having an event. So you never received the or something like that. It was you never received an email like that from me ever. Okay. So can please I I don't want to pull the email.
The last communications you received, we had gotten some information that they were there was this plan for this major event. And the communication that I believe was communicated from the inspections department was that if you were going to have this event, you need
a special events permit. He is correct. They never applied for a special events permit. Uh because my understanding was that they did not hold that event at that location. And I will stand by that. If you were to have that location at
your at that space, you would need a special events permit. I think he said, but it wasn't his event. So, there's that. Um, so they can they hold events? Are they el are they allowed to have events today? Well, that's a very broad question. What type
of event? What are you doing at the event? One that doesn't include alcohol. Yeah. Yes, they can. So, they're not waiting for us to say, "Go ahead, put something on Madame Mayor, may may I speak to it? I have a little money. Councilman Anderson. So, at the at their location,
there was another group who wanted to host an event. It was for a fundraiser scholarship. That individual was advised because it was advertised on social media. At that point, they needed to apply for the uh special events permit.
That individual never applied. He spoke to the office I think on a Friday which was no time for anything to be done because I believe the event was going to be that Sunday. So because they never applied for it. They were told
they cannot hold it. It wasn't Diamond Dogs or Elite Social Group. It was another entity who right the third party. He never did what he was supposed to do. So that's why it was denied. And the big part was it was advertised on social media. So you don't know what the
attendance would be. So that's what happened and the inspections department spoke to the individual because the individual called me and I said, "Well, this is what needs to be done." But because they didn't they didn't take heed to it when it was initially told to them, they waited till the last minute, which there was no time for it to be
processed. So that's why actually right now we're not doing anything from the public. Thank you. So, um, but to Mr. to Councilman Anderson's point with regards to the epicenter again, she advertises events all the time on Facebook and never came before
council. Yes, you have a lot of you actually raise money. The Quanza thing you do every or Martin Luther King something you do, stop shaking your head, please. She's advertised events at her location on on the internet on the websites and her epicenter has never
come before the council to apply for any special events or any special anything. So, I think we need to be fair. I'm just saying we can't have a double standards for one group and then because if you're on council, you get special treatment. I think you need to get the facts. I can
pull I will pull up all of the flyers that I've seen advertised for Tiffany for at the epicenter that's been advertised and never had was there a special event permit that came before us. I'm just I'm asking I'm comparing it to the same. Madame Mayor, Dr.
You're not comparing them to the same. Um, we are not a 501c3. The Burough Epicenter is not a 501c3 organization. It is a LLC organization. Um, actually the Burough Epicenter doesn't hold events. We rent our space
to people who host different events. Um, we're not we didn't have to go through the same process because we're not a 501c3 organization. We're not a membership based organization. It's a commercial space. It's not the same as
um as a membership organization. It's not even the same type of of building. It's not the same permitted uses. It's not We have a completely different organization. Um and yeah. So, and I think your uh organization is a membership based
organization. I don't have a membership-based organization. That's not what the Burough Epicenter is. It's a venue and that's it. And so based on the permitted uses of the burrow epicenter, we're compliant with what the
ordinance requires for us in that venue. I don't have any spe I pay my taxes there. All my taxes are current. Um I pay my mercantile. I do all of those things. In fact, I have more requirements as a member of council. I have paid um for permits. I have to pay
for special conflict permits and everything because I can't even have my work done in Willingboro because I am a sitting council member. So it's it's not the same thing because the member the organization itself isn't the same. The business type is not the same.
It is not and if we could refrain from public from the comment from the public. All right, with that, um, we'll continue on with our meeting. Um,
we do have executive session in need for tonight. Um, but before that, we will do council comments. Council Pan, you can come back to me. Are you relinquishing your time? I am
not relinquishing my time. I have not thought about what I wanted to speak about at this moment. So, you can come back to me. Councilman Anderson. Yes. Just want to thank everybody for coming out, those who uh participate on Zoom. Unfortunately, we're having technical difficulties, but as it was stated, uh
we're working to resolve those. Uh congratulations to Officer Patrick Degrazia on his retirement for his time served here in the community. Congratulations to uh Willenboro Police Department for acquiring their fourth accreditation
uh which I believe is what now 13 to 15 years since 2013. 12 years. Yeah. So congratulations there and congratulations to Captain Harry for being accepted to the uh FBI academy. Thank you. Thank you Councilman
Anderson. Councilwoman Purum. I will let you know if I have a comment. You can call someone else. Councilwoman Mintosh, I'll keep mine brief due to the time. Um, I just want to take the opportunity to um give a shout out to all the
fathers, the father figures, the men in this community who, you know, stand up for our community. Um, you are needed as a female. I just want to say you are needed. You are um honored. And I just wanted to say that because I don't think you get enough honor on your day all the
time. So, I just want to take the opportunity to say happy Father's Day to all our father figures in the community. Um, you are definitely needed and this community will not be whole without you. Thank you, Councilwoman Mintosh. Councilwoman,
I don't believe I raised my hand yet. Okay. Well, the last comments will be from the deputy mayor and the mayor. If you would have a comment. When I raise my hand and if you want again an orderly meeting, let's be orderly. I will raise my hand when I'm ready to give a comment. This is now for This is now the
time for council comment. If any council members would like to speak, you can speak now. Seeing none, council comment is now closed. All right. Um I'd like to thank everyone for coming out this evening. We will be
having an executive session um uh to discuss some matters of redevelopment. Um I appreciate everyone that came and voiced their opinions. There are still some issues that we need to work out
with um the Diamond Dogs Elite 609. We will be in touch to work out those issues there with FOBcast and the TNVR ordinance. we will um work out those issues there. Um and also
I thought there was something else. I think that was all for right now, but we will continue to work for that. I know we don't always agree, but I think this council is aligned with doing what's best for Willingboro and we strive towards that fact. Please
remember that we have our Junth event on Saturday, June 21st um at Mil Creek Park and we look forward to seeing everyone there in this celebration. I echo the sentiments for our police
department. I'm very proud of Willingboro's finest. Um, congratulations to the officers that were uh sworn in today as well as the students that received scholarship awards today. We are very proud of them and a happy belated father's day to all
the fathers. Um, you can, Madame Clerk, if you'll do the uh resolution for executive session. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Resolution for executive session tonight is going to be resolution 2025-172, resolution authorizing a closed
executive session in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act. Can I get a motion in a second? Uh, you executive session to consider the resolutions and to receive the appropriate um legal advice.
All right, we need a motion. So moved. Second. Moved by Councilwoman Macintosh, seconded by Deputy Mayorworthy. Discussion. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron. Yes. Councilman
Anderson. Councilwoman Macintosh. Yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. Yes. Mayor Whitfield. Yes. Thank you. [Music] All right. We should be back in about 20 minutes. Um there may be action taken
after we return. There she's outside. Is there anything that we have He said he needed to come. All right, Madame Clerk, we need a motion to come out of the executive session. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Can I
get a motion to come out of executive session? So moved. Second. Moved by Councilwoman Macintosh. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron. Yes. Uh Councilwoman Macintosh. Yes. Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. Yes. Mayor Whitfield. Yes. Thank you. We
are now out of executive session at 10:27 and we need a motion to adjurnn. So move. Second. Moved by Councilwoman Peron, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? Any
abstensions? The time is now 10:28. We are adjourned.