Madame Clerk, the time is now 7:01 p.m. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. The time is now 7:01 p.m. I'd like to call this regular township council meeting to order. Roll call. Councilwoman Peron, >> present. >> Councilman Anderson.
Councilwoman Macintosh, >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, >> present. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> present. >> Thank you. Um, for our prayer this evening, we have a slight change to the agenda. Um, I'd like to invite uh Chaplain uh Thompson to lead us in
tonight's prayer. Good evening, Chaplain Thompson. It's let us pray. Father God, in the name of Jesus, we give you glory and honor on this day. We come before you just as humble as we know how with a bowed head and humble
heart that we will come to you above this council right now. We ask you right now that you would bless each and every one of them. Bless this township. Lord God, we ask you right now that you would move by your power divine in this meeting. Lord God, all that's on the agenda. We pray thee right now that as
we come together as one as Willboro as township of Willboro that we will come together on every level from the recreation to our educational department to our just neighbor to neighbor. So right now in the name of Jesus, we ask you right now that you will move mightily among them and among us. And as
we walk together as one from the police department, the fire department, every department that's attached to us, that we will do what we would do to come together and um make our our township flourish right now in the name of Jesus. We give you glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.
>> Amen. Thank you, Chaplain Thompson. Please rise for the flag salute. 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. Um this is uh one of our last meetings in December. We will be having a special
meeting on December 22nd um for one of our local businesses to discuss a matter um regarding them. But um I did want to say happy holidays to everyone. And as we get started, I'll invite Chief Bucks
up. So, good evening, mayor, deputy mayor, council, and our Willingboro family. So, it's my pleasure tonight to introduce you to our newest officer, Officer Corey Scott. You give a little
>> So, Officer Scott began his employment with the Willingboro Police Department back in January of 2025. Uh he experienced a minor setback in the police academy, but through his perseverance, his determination, and strong commitment to serving Willingboro, he successfully graduated
the police academy as number class 92 of the Camden County Police Academy. So, prior to becoming a police officer, Officer Scott served as a juvenile corrections officer, and he will bring valuable experience in working with our our youth. So today, not only will
Officer Scott be sworn in and take his oath of office, but he's also uh celebrating a birthday. >> So at this point, I would ask Officer Scott to please stand as the mayor go ahead and goes ahead and off uh does your oath of office. You can step right here.
>> Good evening, Officer Scott. >> It is a pleasure um to be in front of you, to swear you in this evening. If you would raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Corey Scott
>> I, Corey Scott, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution >> I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> the United States >> and the Constitution >> constitution >> of the state of New Jersey >> state of New Jersey. and that I will bear true faith
>> That I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established >> government established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> in this state >> in this state >> county >> county >> and township >> township >> under the authority of the people
>> the authority of the people >> and I will faithfully >> I will faithfully >> impartially >> partially >> and justly >> justly >> perform all the duties of police officer >> perform all the duties of police officer >> according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God.
>> All right. Congratulations. >> And if Officer Scott, if you would just turn around to the camera so that the community can see you. Willing, I'd like to introduce to you our newest officer, Officer Corey Scott.
So, at this point, I would ask uh Officer Scott's family and friends to please come forward as uh as his uh his girlfriend go ahead goes ahead and pins his badge to his chest. Feel free to take as many pictures as you want. All
right. Okay. And if you would come up here for a picture. Okay. She's having a blast. All right, and we will continue on with our meeting. We do have a few presentations this evening. Um, and
first on the agenda is the economic development committee. Um, our chairperson is Mr. Jabari Adams and our economic develop or Yeah. Economic development [clears throat] manager is Mr. Mark
Shield. >> Good evening, gentlemen. >> Good evening. >> All right. Good evening, mayor, uh, deputy mayor, members of council, and township. Uh, my name is Jabari Adams. I am the chair for the economic development committee for the township of Willingboroough. So um we are going
to be presenting you our end of the year report. So this is an accumulation of all the things that we uh started out and aspired to do at the beginning of the year, the things that we've accomplished and then um some items uh that we look forward to accomplishing uh next year and also some things that we
need to be able to accomplish those tasks. So we did have a PowerPoint presentation. I'm not sure is that no. Okay, cool. All right. So all right. So once that gets up, uh hopefully that'll get up in a couple minutes. Uh we're going to go ahead and get started.
So um this is the 2025 progress update and uh strategic recommendations for 2025 and into the year for 2026. So the purpose of um our committee um our job essentially is to act as a a
pseudo advisory board to uh the council um to provide research um expertise, resources and datadriven insight to support township council uh agendas. So this promote uh economic well-being uh to provide evidence uh evidence-based
uh strategies for revitalization uh add capacity and focus um and to be a general arm for the council uh it means of reaching out to the community and uh at large and a better uh business community at large. So um couple of goals that we had set out at the
beginning of the year to achieve and then we're going to kind of go over some of the things that we actually winded up being able to do. Um, one of our goals was to um attract, retain, and support uh businesses to create local employment opportunities. Uh, develop and implement workforce development initiatives. Uh,
provide uh business community with resources such as financial literacy, business planning, uh, capital, um, incubator and accelerator programs. Um, also hosting roundt uh, roundts and workshops to gather direct community feedback um, for needs and challenges that the business community uh, is
having. um also to strengthen in uh public and private partnerships in the township uh and to build other strategic partnerships with local institutions. So uh we were set some very ambitious goals this year. Um and we were able to uh get
started and accomplish a few. Um, just to name a couple, uh, we had, uh, an event on November 20th, uh, over at the JFK Center, uh, called Business Over Bites, um, which was a business, uh, business owner engagement event where we invited, uh, local businesses from the
community to come in and kind of have some dialogue and conversation around having in the township, uh, any needs that they have, um, any accomplishments that they've, uh, that they had, any events that they have coming up, just so we can kind of get some direct feedback.
um obviously to provide to you so we can work on addressing some of those challenges um direct from the business community. Um we've also um started working on some uh strategic workforce partnerships. So we did start working with the school district. Um we are currently working on
uh three programs uh with them uh that some of our members are directly involved in that we're going to be working on um with the uh CTE director to be implemented in the high school over the course of the next year. Uh so we are in the planning phase right now for two of those uh two of those um
subjects and then starting summertime I think we're going to be running a summer program to kind of pilot a few of those so that they can uh make a determination in the following school year if they're going to turn them into a full curriculum. So there are things that we work are working very uh diligently with the school district. Oh, okay. Now we
had a presentation. All right. Um there are some uh external Oh, we can go back one slide. Thank you. Appreciate it. Um there are some external partnerships that we've been working with. Um we uh during that um chat and shoot that we had on November 20th, we are developing relationships with Chase Bank here in
Willenboro. Um we actually have a meeting in the beginning of January to begin working with them. Um the small business development center and LAA out in Camden to provide some uh one-on-one workshops with the business owners in the township which is going to provide business planning. Uh this and all of
these services are free to the business owner. So this is business planning. This is financial planning for these businesses. Um it is also uh strategic planning for scaling. Um and also additional workshops and resources that they're going to be providing for free to the township. So we're going to be
working with them and providing those resources at the top of the year uh next year in 2026. Um we were we were supposed to have a developers conference in October. Uh that wind up getting cancelled by the county. However, we did hold our own
internal uh Willen Bro developers um meeting that we had at the beginning of October. We were able to invite some of the owners from the township uh some of the commercial property owners. We did get some direct feedback from them about you know different things that they were looking at um challenges that they were
having and interacting with the township and then also plans that um they had for some of their properties and help that they would need u moving forward. So we are going to be providing that information to the council um very soon. Um one of the things that we also did uh
thanks to Miss Bell Senator Mahammy who is an intricral part of the uh committee uh we did create a business directory for the website. Um on the township website there is now a business directory for all of the businesses that are listed in Willenro that will be updated as we get new businesses to come in. Um, we are also looking at um
building that building that portion of the website out so that way it's a little bit more interactive so that members of the community can always come in kind of see what's going on with the businesses, see if they're offering any specials or any type of incentives to be able to shop um shop local in the township.
Um and then uh once again we're also going to be um working on doing a small business eventually creating a small business resource center where not only the businesses have the access to those resources I mentioned earlier um externally so they can reach all those resources virtually but there also will
be a place inside the township um or in Willenboro where they can come in and get the one-on-one counseling that they need uh for whatever their needs are whether that be attorneys, accountants, um uh real estate agents, whatever they need, we're going to be able to try to
provide that internally here um at the township. Um so these are just a few of the things that our committee has been working hard on. These uh men and women have been working very diligently this year. Um Mr. Deield is going to explain some of the the data and the research that we were able to pull, which I think you're going to be impressed by. That's
also going to help lead the charge on uh creating more opportunity for development and revitalization to come to the township. >> Thank you, Jabari. Uh thank you councel for uh giving us the opportunity to speak to you this evening. Um we can go to the next slide please. Um the efforts
of the economic development committee are even more vital um for the township particularly amidst um a multiple um demographic and economic shifts um that has happened in the community. Uh these shifts create uh a tremendous
opportunity for economic well-being in the township. at the same at the same time there are also going to be a challenge um that we need to address through proactive and datadriven um strategies. Um the committee has the expertise um and
is well suited to help the council in dealing with this situation. Um so first I want to do is if we go to the next slide is re I review uh some of the US census data to provide us with some insight in why the economic trajectory um of the township economy this is a key
time and it's ripe for investment in the township. Um first there's a couple of key factors happening. One is population stabilization. after years of population decline um and up and downs in the populations. We're seeing um over the last 10 years stabilization in in in the
um population. That's a good sign. It tells people this is a stable community that they want to invest in. Uh in fact, if you look at projections going into 2035, um we're looking the township is now at 31,000. It's looking for us to increase
to uh 32,000. Those are good signs and time for um for investment in the new stabilized environment. Uh this is particularly important because it can allow us to um provide an opportunity for us to kind of leverage our position
in the county. As the third largest municipality, we are a central force in the county. Um with this stabilization, we can use those market um opportunities as being that central population center um to create investments in retail um
and and also um in service businesses. Can we go to the next slide please? Um here's one a very interesting sli um slide and I just want to talk about in addition to these hidden kind of um in addition to the period of um stabilization that we have um we have
some hidden market potential here um that really unless you really take a deep dive into the numbers that you you you you can see um Willenboro has a diverse income distribution um when you look at the in income distribution in um
Willenboro what you'll see is um using the American Community Surveys from 2022, we see that there's 5,17 households making above $100,000 and above. Um and that is
a tremendous asset and you don't see it. Uh most when developers come in what they do is they look at the um per capita income and the per capita income in this community it's masked by the fact that there are a large child population in the community and our
diverse income um distribution and when you look at that it's 38,000 it's one of the lowest in the county but you look at this it tells you a different story. Uh in addition um it shows some incredible incredible um
growth. Um if you look at 2010 um those people making $100,000 a year doubled moving from $2,951 to $5, 2017. More more kind of impressive um are those making over $200,000.
That increased almost sixfold in that same period. um they moved from 779 to 1,083. This hidden market potential is an opportunity for growth. We just have to tell the story. Um and that's part of
what the committee will do is is just telling that story. This is untapped um commercial spending potential that we need to um promote. If we can go to next slide. This is one of the challenges that we
have. We've got the potential of income, but we also have a problem in what they call retail leakage. Um, we did an analysis looking at the income in the community and what that income translates in in in terms of buying power. And if you do that, that's what
you get your potential retail. And we're talking retail sales. $51.7 million in potential sales are here in this community. Unfortunately, what is happening now is only about hund00 million. If you look at the generation of revenue in this
community and what we did was we used the um the economic census from 2022, we see that the town is only generating $und00 million. That means $41 million
is going elsewhere, going to Mount Laurel, Burlington Township, all of the towns around us. Um, and this is a challenge, but it's also an opportunity because what this says is that investors can come in, they have a potential of tapping over $41.7
million of potential um um revenue. If we can go to the next slide, please. Next thing we want to do is talk about the kind of emerging uh economic development opportunities. Um and and one of the things Willenboro
quarter is kind of designed from the 1950s design. It's autocentric. It's um it's a model that kind of hampers its competitiveness at the time. Um and to address this issue and what we do and I believe council is on the same page is the promotion of mixeduse development
that fosters kind of experiential environments. That's the retail that we can recapture and that's the retail that we need to go after is that experientially designed retail. Um so that's what the committee would like to do is to help um the township recapture um and cultivate that. And what you do
um in the process of doing that is creating a vital space that has things like from restaurants to public spaces, residential, all of this mixed together so that people have a sense of place and they want to come here not only to shop but also just to experience the
community. Go to the next slide, please. Finally, understanding these these demographic shifts and the opportunities ahead for Willingboroough, um the committee has this vision for 2025. We would like to help the council and moving toward that. One is the promotion
of the mixeduse development. We kind of talked about that's the right uh mix to tap that $41.7 million in untapped and uncapped untapped uh income. Um secondly is expand workforce development. Um and Mr. Adams here
already spoke about what we're doing now for the workforce development is important. Um and if you also look at that income um distribution you'll see is we have a wide range of incomes from very high to medium to low. We need to also ensure that the community that we
are building up the capacity of the community to make w living wages. Um and then finally the next thing is to kind of strengthen small business development. Um and we believe that's going to be one of the keys also. Um one of the things that you'll note in
Willingboro when you look at the the kind of um industrial mix in Willboro, we're highly concentrated. It's the hospital health care number one out spans every other opportunity in Willingboro. But what we see is the
opportunity there is to bring some more diversity is to focus on the small business and that's one of the things the committee uh we talked about some of the things to kind of help promote the small business activities um and training um and financial assistance. I know you want to go into the next.
>> All right. So, um, as you can see, we've kind of done a lot of work in really trying to get a lot of information and data so that anytime we have conversations with any potential developers, any potential businesses that want to come into town, um, we can kind of lead that conversation with uh, with facts with with information. So,
there's a few things that we feel like we would probably that we're going to need from council um that will help us drive this message forward and help us do a lot more work uh, next year. Um so one thing is that we are going to be putting on a lot more events next year. Um one thing that we did do um last year
we actually tagged on with Senator Singleton to do a resource fair at the JFK Center here in May of last year which garnered about a you know well over a hundred participants there. Um, and we're also planning to do the same thing again next year a couple of times so that we can make sure that the folks
in in the township have the opportunity to have access to those resources and also folks who are not aware of the opportunities can also come to the township and see that there's opportunity here. Um, so presence, you know, your presence at those events obviously we we're going to encourage, we need it people, you know, we want folks to see that the council is
involved in making sure that the township uh businesses are going to be um are going to be thriving. Um, so that's one. Um we do need uh it's a dedicated page in the 2026 calendar. We would like a dedicated page in the 2026 calendar for those events so that it is uh separate
from the township calendar so that people can go there and access that um calendar visually. Um inclusion in the weekly newsletter. Um we would look uh to actually be included in the Willenboro connect app. Um we we are also asking for creative
control of the economic development page. There's some things that we want to do to make that page a little bit more interactive so that residents have a reason to go there. They have a reason to get the information from there and they and also what that also does that still drives traffic to the township site for any other things that the
township also has going on. Um which is which includes the inclusion in the social media platforms. Um and the last thing is uh a budget. Um we would like um funds for these targeted initiatives. most of the things that we're getting are free or there are there through
organizations that offer these services for free. However, by having that budget, it will allow us to I mean allow us to provide um more targeted services to these individuals. So, for example, um the organizations that I mentioned earlier, if we were able to provide some funds for the uh small business
development center, they can designate a consultant to come to Willenboro at least once a quarter, if not once every month to be here the entire day strictly for Willenboro businesses in a designated space. Um that service is not
expensive, but it's also not free. So, those are the things that we're looking to do. um also to um we're looking for that those funds to support uh business outreach and the research that um Mr. Dills is doing. Um we do have some partnerships that are coming up with uh
Ruckers University um that we've been in talks with to kind of come up with some more ancillary resources for manufacturing um and also bringing um having more strategic solutions for you all to consider when it comes to bringing jobs and partnerships to the township that align with um jobs that
are coming up in the future. Um so these are just a few things um that we're looking to do. Um as you can see like like I said the committee they do excellent excellent work. They they work extremely hard and they're very very diligent and um uh passionate about
economic development in this community. Is can you go to the next slide? I think that might be it. There's just a few pictures that we had there. Um but yes, that's is that concludes our report. If there are any questions at
all, please we welcome them. >> Thank you, Mr. Adams. Any questions from council? Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, thank you for the presentation. I was wondering based on the budget that you're requesting from council, have you drafted a proposed budget so we can see
um the funds that you're requesting and how they would be utilized. >> So, we had talked about that because we were in the midst of um closing out some events uh a couple of weeks ago. So, we are in the midst of creating that budget now. Um strateging about the events that we're going to be doing next year and how much those events are going to cost
if we're going to do them on our dime. So you will have that um coming to the top of the year. >> All right. Any other questions from council? >> Councilwoman per Thank you. Um excellent presentation by the way. Um very comprehensive and helpful. Um so I just
I have a question relating to our vacant properties that we currently have um commercial properties and you know we have so many dollar stores and what's the other one? there a lot of
dollar stores and um I wanted to know about >> um have you spoken to the owners of those properties where um perhaps you could um have some sort of um meeting about advertising the vacant
properties, some sort of like marketing material. Um letting people know this property is available, whether it be lawn signs or something maybe not as expensive, something virtual. Um, have you met with any of the business um, owners that currently have vacant prop
uh, commercial properties? >> Um, that's a great question. So, the um, the meeting that we had in October was our initial uh, outreach to those owners and we also invited the um, the brokers and agents that represent those owners. Also, um we didn't necessarily get the turnout that we would like, but we
understand that this is, you know, this is an ongoing thing and we we're kind of building from not having, you know, almost very little contact or communication with them. So moving forward, we're going to be doing this, you know, pro more than likely we're probably going to be doing this quarterly um starting next
year, having those meetings um to kind of develop those relationships with them and kind of figure out if a if they've been getting any traction from anybody else or from elsewhere and then b what we can do to kind of help bridge that gap and address the challenges that you're talking about. >> There's one comment I want to make. One of the things that um we look at in
terms of the data is looking at every sector um um in terms of employment in the community um and try to deal with the issue of the same stores and the same place. Um what are the pl what are the types of industries that we're going to target? When I talk about industries, I'm not talking about industries. I'm
talking about um sectors like is it going to be retail? Is it I'm just using that as an example. Is it going to be retail? Is it going to be business services? Um, so we've done a kind of comprehensive review and council will be getting a copy of this uh shortly of
what are the different opportunities. Um, and once we have that, that'll be even better for us as we talk to um the vacant property owners in terms of what we want you to market this um establishment for. >> Here's here's what would work and here's the data that shows that it'll work.
>> Yeah. And then the last thing I wanted to ask is when you do meet with them um perhaps finding out from them what are their challenges that they may have seen as far as bringing other types of businesses uh to Willingboro. But that concludes my questions. Thank you.
>> Any other questions? >> All right. I just want to thank um the economic development committee for all of their hard work this year. Um we've had a tremendous amount of growth in the action of the economic development committee and you've been doing great
work this year um building partnerships with the school district on their CTE program having members of the economic development committee assist the school district and some and growing some of those um job sectors or job training
programs over on that side has been um really helpful and also just finding the challenges. So, I am looking forward to getting that report of the challenges that you were able to find out from local businesses um so that we can make
whatever changes we need to um at the legislative level or the procedural level to make uh business life easier for uh small businesses in our township. So, thank you for all your work and we look forward to a very fruitful 2026. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. All right. And next we have uh an update for our performing arts center by Mr. Bobby Ducket. >> Good evening, Madame Mayor and Council. How's everybody? >> Happy holidays. Um
happy we are finally turning the final corner of uh getting the Willing Barrel Performing Arts Center complete. Um you guys have a a summary of what our spring programming is. I don't want to give out uh artists and everything yet because we're in the process of finishing up
negotiations with contracts, but uh we have a diverse program that will be starting with our grand opening on April 3rd and running through uh end of May. Uh the theater theat's pretty much ready to go as far as all the contracting and
we're finishing up the do a little bit of construction. So we should be complete by midFebruary and ready to open on the 3. Um with that being said, we have some good partnerships that are coming that we're working on to bring uh very diverse uh programming to the
township and uh reach out to everyone. Um, so as you guys can see the dates that I presented to you that we have, but like I said, until we get all the contracts finally finished, I don't want to make that announcement until we get there. Uh, we also have some partnerships with some great rentals
that are coming in. Um, we'll be announcing a major um, function, inaugural function for September for the township that we're very, very excited about um, and moving forward. So, we're in a good space right now um, budgetary wise of just what we want to go do. and
um any questions that you guys might have. >> Any questions from council? >> All right, M. Ducket, it seems like everyone's anxious and anticipating. >> We are all very anxious. So,
>> yeah. >> No, we we're there. I mean, we've had a lot of uh Deputy Mayor Worthy and M Council Anderson has been with with me through the whole drive of uh dealing with our contractors. um which I've learned a lot about now and I'm good
project manager um but we've uh had some you know things that we've been fighting through uh for the most part those things are behind us now so the major things for the room have been done but you guys will be approving a few things today that uh have us ready to go so I'm
very excited about moving forward and as you can see what that list is I think we're going to have a nice run for the spring and come back in the fall and be ready to really rock and roll for our fall semester. >> Hold on one second. >> Yes, >> I'm sorry. Just want one question with
what you handed out to us for the March 19th. I didn't see a time. So, we're going to get more details about that. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. That that is something I want to do uh as you can see in house openhouse so that you guys can all see it prior to it opening up. So, there'll be more details to come on all of this.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. And Mr. Ducket, I did want to just take a moment to thank you for um your work on the performing arts center. Um I know when we all first embarked on this project that had been long awaited,
um we had some challenges right from the very beginning with sound system. Um and you were able to come in and say, "Wait a second, this is not as state-of-the-art as you think this supposed to be." and um throughout the pro the progress of the project, you
have been instrumental in helping us to get what we want out of the project and not just what we're given. So, thank you for your diligence. >> My pleasure. Thank you for having me and uh I think we've got a lot more work to do. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank
>> hopefully not too much. >> All right. All right. And in honor of um the holiday shopping season, we are going to uh have one proclamation for small business appreciation month.
Yeah. Proclamation declaring December small business appreciation month. Whereas small businesses serve as the economic backbone of Willingboro Township, providing employment opportunities, supporting local families, and contributing significantly to the
stability and prosperity of our community. And whereas the owners and employees of small businesses consistently demonstrate determination, skill, and creativity, often working long hours and overcoming numerous challenges to meet the needs of residents and maintain high quality
services. And whereas small businesses enhance the cultural identity and vibrancy of Willingboro by bringing diversity in products, services, cuisines, craftsmanship, and experiences that reflect the richness of our community. And whereas the month of
December represents a vital period for small businesses and community members as they engage in holiday shopping, seasonal gatherings, and local events that stimulate the local economy. And whereas the Willingboro Economic Development Commission plays a vital
role in supporting, promoting, and advocating for local businesses and actively works to strengthen the economic environment in which small businesses grow and succeed. And whereas it is fitting and proper that Willingboro Township honor the essential role small businesses play and encourage
residents to support these local establishments throughout the holiday season and the entire year. Now, therefore, be it resolved that Mayor Samantha E. Whitfield of the Township of Woolingboro on behalf of the governing body and all residents do hereby proclaim the month of December 2025 as
small business appreciation month and urge all members of the community to recognize, support, and celebrate Willing Borrow small business owners for their invaluable impact on our township. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor Worthy. Um, so yes, thank you once again all of our
small business uh community, also our economic development committee for all of the work that you do and services that you provide to Willingboro Township. And now I will turn it over to Mr. Harris for the manager's municipal updates.
>> Good evening, mayor and members of the council in Williamboro Township. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Good. >> Okay. Not good. >> Let me pull it up a little closer. a little closer. Okay, there we go. There we go. Right. Right on the lips.
Um, we're going to begin our report this evening with our engineer, Mr. Chapola, is going to come uh come and give us some updates very briefly on our projects that are um still moving forward here in the township. Mr. Chapola.
>> Thank you, Mr. Harris. Good evening, Mayor, members of council. and township. >> Good evening. >> Um, good evening. I'd like to start tonight with Edge Lane. Um, all curbing and concrete work is complete. Uh, due
to the weather conditions, uh, we may not be completing the paving as scheduled until March of next year. Um, for the Kennedy Center track and turf field, we have irrigation installations are 90% complete. turf
field just needs to be final graded. We have a tenative schedule for the track to be paved this Thursday or Friday, weather permitting, but I see that we have some uh rain forecast for those days. So, I'm not sure whether they're going to be able to hold that schedule.
Um if that's not going to be paved um during that time that may be uh having to be put back until until March or when they can get the machines in to do the paving and also the soding which would
not be done until the spring to um guarantee that it would take uh for the performing arts center as Mr. Duckett has stated we're pro regressing in a timely manner. JH Williams, our contractor, is on schedule to complete
his contract in early February. We do have some remaining items for phase one that need to be completed, which is the carpets, some installations, some fire extinguishers, and the aisle lighting. Uh, recently we received $367,000
grant for bikeway extensions for about a half a mile for new and shared paths along JFK Way and Vans Skyver Parkway. And we also received $218,000 state grant for East Lane and East Gate
Lane for milling, overlaying, curb ramp, sidewalks, and drainage improvement. So, we're pretty happy about getting those two grants. Uh, Mil Creek Park, u, it's currently under Green Acres review for the final review for the Jake Place and
Picklebar Courts. And I I reached out to um Pinoni, I'm sorry, RVE earlier today, but there is no timeline given on to when we can expect those approvals to be obtained for the Crystal Lake dock
floating for the Crystal Lake floating dock. Uh I requested that we award the design of the site to CME Associates. Um, and this would be for the site design, parking, and all NJ permitting
[snorts] for the food pantry. I'm finally working on getting three proposals or or finally, we're finally going to obtain three proposals for architects to complete the design for the total pantry so that we can go out
for subcontractor price outs. So far, I received one price from Remington Vernick Engineers, and I'm expecting another price from Joseph McCern Associates and Len Associates. And that is all I have. Any questions from the
council? >> All right. Any questions for Mr. Chapa? Council Council Mintosh, >> I just have a a question referring to Edge Lane. Um, I just want to uh can you refresh my memory as to what we're fixing on Edge Lane? Well, we have um a
lot of um deteriorated pavement on that road and there was a lot of um curbing and sidewalk that need to be reset because it wasn't done to grade and the grading and and the drainage
wasn't um effective. So, what we've done, we've replaced a lot of the the slope gutter along the street, replaced the uh concrete uh aprons. We replaced a lot of sidewalks. Uh basically, the road
was in pretty bad shape. A lot of deterioration. So, we wanted to grab it before it got any worse, before we had to put even more money. And so, it's basically still a mill and overlay project. >> Just I would ask Mr. Harris, can we just um make sure we look at it because um
after the snowstorm, there's still a lot of flooding um and the water is still welling up in front of people's driveways and turning into ice. So, >> right, >> just wanted to make sure we take a look at that. Make sure >> Sure. >> We were trying to alleviate that >> that that's being alleviated, >> right? That would be the intent of the
design. Now, like I said, they haven't mill and paved it, which they are going to change some of the grades when they mill and pave. So, um, that should take care of any ponding that you see right now. Yeah, we just want to try to get the, you know, get the project done.
Kind of in the middle of it right now. And unfortunately with this, this snap we had, it kind of put a monkey wrench in their plans to get it done. >> Okay. But that I just want to make sure that that is being >> right. But we wanted to at least finish the the concrete. We didn't want to have
people's driveways unfinished or they were driving on a steel ramp or something like that. So, we had I wanted a push to get that done. >> Thank you. >> Oh, you're welcome. Any other questions? >> Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Yes, Deputy Mayor. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I know you
mentioned for Jake's Place, you said RV said that there's not a timeline that they yet. >> Do we know when we can have something more definitive to have a plan? >> I'm going to check on that. Like I said, I had reached out to um Mr. Johnson at RVE today figuring that you might have
that question, but I did not receive a phone call yet uh back from him, but I can certainly get back with Mr. Harris as soon as I find that out and he can pass that on to you. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor. You're very welcome. I I don't anticipate it to be a long
process. >> Um and I did have two questions. Um I just wanted to confirm that the turf you mentioned turf at the um JFK track it's natural turf not astroturf.
>> Yes it's sad. It's grown grown grass. They're going to roll it up from the field and roll it out. >> Okay. I just wanted to clarify that for the >> I'm sorry. And then also um with the performing arts center, are we on track still to have the reorg in that room or
No, >> that's going to be up to the contractor because he feels the last time I spoke with him that that's still a working site and there may be liability issues for that. So, um I that's might be up to the contractor to make that final determination. Mayor.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. That >> you're very welcome everybody. Have a good evening. And uh mayor, if I may respond to your last question about the um the the reorganization meeting, I don't think the techn technology is in place that
could really facilitate that meeting for January 1st. >> All right. Well, um maybe we can just make sure that all of the technology is in place in um the banquet hall um and working properly so that we can have it
there as we normally do. >> Absolutely. >> Right. You can continue, Mr. Har. So, I'm pleased to report that the township operations in November continued to be strong, coordinated, and fiscally sound uh with departments delivering high
levels of service while still staying disciplined and accountable. Financially, the township remains in a very solid position. Our year-to- date revenue collected has totaled $45.2 million, which is 103% of what we
anticipated for this point in the year. and November alone has just uh generated just over 18 million driven primarily by tax collections. On the expenditure side, our year-to-ate spending stands at 45.47 million or 94% of the appropriated
spending. So, excluding u non-spending items, payroll continues to be our largest cost driver, followed by our operational expenses and health benefits. Um, major statutory payments in include did 3.3 million to the board
of education and 2.7 million in county taxes. Turning to public safety, the Willing Barrow Police Department continues to operate at full strength with 70 or 71 sworn officers now. And I want to highlight the department's continued investment in leadership and
succession planning. Two sergeants have completed the 14-week week NJ SA COP West Point Command and Leadership Program. One sergeant has completed a 10-week executive leadership program at Fairley Dickinson University. And
additional supervisors completed frontline and executive leadership training. These are command level investments that strengthen accountability, decision-making, and long-term stability within the police department. Uh our operational readiness remains
high with 100% completion of all mandatory trainings. Uh and uh an officer did graduate the academy and was sworn in this evening. Um re successfully uh reintegrating uh an officer returning and we are
successfully reintegrating an officer who is returning from a threeyear military deployment. Uh community engagement also remained a priority including senior outreach uh events, neighborhood watch meetings, monthly
food pantry deliveries, participation in the straight to treatment program, and assistance with large-scale food distributions, most notably 330 turkeys were distributed during the Thanksgiving season in partnership with Virtual
Health. Uh, our fire and EMS teams continue to respond to high volume of calls both in town and through mutual aid to surrounding municipalities. Notable incidents included a vehicle fire, a residential structure fire that
required Red Cross assistance along with multiple regional support responses. Their professionalism and readiness continues to be evident. I want to take a moment to thank the Department of Public Works for a job well done during
this year's 2025's final snowstorm. Despite having several plow and salt uh spreading trucks out of service for repairs, DPW exeicated snow and ice control operations very effectively and safely. And um that performance set the
bar for the 2026 winter season. And I also think it reflects the strong planning and adaptability of the department. Uh beyond renter operations, uh DPW remained extremely active. In November alone, crews collected 1,550
cubic yards of leaves. Um this was also in the midst of our um I'll call it dump site. I don't know what you would call where we deposit the leaves in the middle of of of collection. he decided that he could no longer support the
capacity that he was receiving from Willing Barrow. And although he was providing the service to us for free, it became an an issue. But Mr. uh Philpot and his creative thinking uh was able to go ahead and secure a a location in a
matter of a couple of hours that enabled us to complete our relief collection um on a timely and uh fiscally uh responsible uh method. So, I thank Mr. uh Phil, Mr. Chapman, and Mr. Philpot for um their quick thinking and
resilience in that situation. Uh they also inspected and cleaned 536 storm water catch basins, repaired 15 potholes, collected trash from parks and streets, recycled 3/4 of a ton of metal. Uh DPW also advanced infrastructure
projects including electrical service for the Mil Creek Park EV charging stations which are still underway. Um PSCNG will be installing the the electric components that will allow us to move forward with the installation of
the uh EV charging stations and uh they are continuing to do work at uh the JFK in relation to other things there. Uh the inspections department maintained a high level of enfor enforcement and
compliance activity completing 1,710 inspections. They issued 667 violations closing 9 cases into compliance. The department generated an additional 73,000 in revenue in November, which put
them over their million-doll mark and continues to actively manage vacant property registrations across the township. Our community affairs and senior services remained a critical support system for the residents with senior center recording over 2,000 plus
visits in November, providing nearly 300 transportation trips, distributed food weekly, and continued health, wellness, and benefits assistance programmings for seniors, veterans, and residents in need. Um, finally, the recreation
department maintained programming while planning ahead. Youth sports participation continued. The basketball season begins on December 20th and preparations are underway for the recreation summit in January along with
the new program offerings in financial literacy and wellness. So, in closing, November reflects a township that is financially stable, operationally disciplined, and focused on delivering results. And I want to thank our department heads and staff for their
continued professionalism and commitment to serving the residents of Willing. And I would like to thank you for your continued support in all of our efforts. And that is my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. Any questions for our township manager regarding his
report? And I'll just say that that was my summary. The full report is in your u your email. >> Council Macintosh. >> Make sure leave collection is not over. Correct. Heard it done.
>> Mr. Chapman [laughter] >> every time. Mr. Chapman. All right, good evening everybody. How's everyone doing? So, weather permitting, if we can get the snow off the ground in time, we anticipate to do one continue our final pass, but we don't know how
that's going to work out. But hopefully, if the snow melts and we get it done before December 31st, we do anticipate doing our final pass. All right. If >> Mr. Chapman, if we're not able to do that final pass, will a pass be done in
the spring just to clean up? >> Well, >> we can we can work that out. Yes, we can. But also, if we don't have the ability to make that final pass, we are collecting bag leaves at the DPW um yard. So, you can bring them drop them off and we'll be able to take them there. >> Okay.
>> All righty. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Harris, um, in response to the township being financially stable, operationally disciplined, and focused on delivering results, I was wondering if the, um, the
payment list, bills and payment list includes the vendors that we previously discussed uh, who are performing services at the senior center. >> Uh, the bills list that you have does not reflect those payments. Okay. But
those bills and I was assured by Miss Foster that those bills will be entered and will be paid by the end of the year. They'll be entered into the system tomorrow and will be paid by the end of the year. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions for Mr.
Harris? Seeing none, uh Miss Harris, you can go on to the ordinances and resolutions for this evening. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, ordinance number 20 uh 25 and 20 2024 2025-24
and 2025-25 are related to the township clerk's office. So, I will defer to her to explain those um for your clarity. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. So, in front of you for public hearing and um possible final adoption is ordinance 2025-24,
which is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 342 of the code and township of Willingboro entitled taxi cabs to update and expand regulations pertaining to limousines and rename chapter 342 of the code to taxi cabs and limousines. That's really just
a long way of saying that we had to update our ordinance to make sure we're in line with state statutes. Um, so in our previous ordinance, it only really covered taxi cabs when in reality we have to um make sure we have
something for limos too. So that's um what we added. And then for 2025-25 um this is an ordinance amending chapter 150-9 of the township code entitled fees for licenses and permits to permit collection of unpaid mercantile licenses
and to add limousine fees. So, it just adds the um limousine fees and then it also um will give us the ability to um collect back uh unpaid mercantile licenses up to three
years. Those are your ordinances. >> Thank you, Mrs. Ceino. And as far as the resolutions being presented to you this evening for your consideration, resolution number 27 or 291 is a resolution authorizing the approval of vouchers for payment and ratification.
Resolution 292 is a resolution for budget transfers of the township to meet the requirements for operating the fairs of the township and we recommend the governing body approves the transfer of excess funds to appropriations deemed insufficient and this ensures that funds
are allocated appropriately to meet the financial requirements of the municipality. Uh again maintaining fiscal integrity and accountability. Resolution number 293 is a resolution authorizing um a change order
number seven for a contract with JH Williams Enterprises for the Willingboro Performing Arts Center phase 2 project. Um, this contract will now reduce uh will be reduced by $3,718.64
resulting in a decrease in the contract price from 1,112,740 to $1,19,22 reflecting a.3% decrease. Um this is uh some adjustments in um steel support beams for the
staging lights. So it's not often that we get contractual reductions, but we receive them um and appreciate them when we do. Resolution number 294 is a resolution to amend resolution 2025-236
to change the name of the contracted vendor from Fred Beans Ford of Washington to Winter Ford of Cherry Hill. We previously submitted a resolution that was approved to purchase three Ford vehicles from Fred Beans.
After the resolution was uh approved, we contacted Fred Beans and they said they no longer had the 2025 Ford vehicles in stocks, but they did have 2026 models. We contacted Winter Ford, which had the 2026 vehicles, but at a slightly lower
price than Fred Beans, and they were on state contract. Therefore, we are requesting the amendment to purchase the three 2026 Ford police vehicles from Winter Ford instead of Fred Bean. Resolution number uh 295 is a resolution
authorizing the township of Willingboro to award a contract to audio assurance for the procurement of an upgraded sound and lighting system for the Willingboro Performing Arts Center. Um this was an
issue that became uh exposed in 2024 um where it was determined that the proposed sound system was not as high tech as we anticipated [clears throat] it would be. We had gone to bid um on
several occasions not finding a uh a successful bidder which allowed us to negotiate the procurement of the equipment in accordance with New Jersey statutes. We did uh have conversations with audio assurance and they provided
proposals to conform uh with the specifications uh including um in the September and October 24 bid packages. Uh the total cost of the complete equipment package including gu um guidance during the
installation uh came to $459,749 and we're asking that you award the contract to them for the procurement of that equipment. Resolution number 296 is a resolution authorizing the extension of the
contract for custodial services. Um, Willingboro, pursuant to resolution 2024-316, awarded a contract to Le Pristine to provide services for the 2025 contract year with the potential of one 12-month
renewal. And we are asking that that contract be extended for an additional year in the amount of $478,35852. Resolution number 297 is a resolution authorizing uh the
submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for the fiscal year 2026 local recreation Improvement Grant. Um, we desire to apply for and obtain a grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs um to cover the cost
associated with updating our community centers, equipments, facilities, and particularly pools. Um, the application is due in February, but we are asking that you authorize us to apply for this DCA grant because we want to be ahead of
it because we would really like to procure that money and apply as much of it to our pools as we can. Resolution number 298 is a resolution awarding a contract, a cooperative contract to Dell
Marketing, uh, who is a participant in the New Jersey estate approved purchasing cooperative contract for the municipal website, agenda, and meeting management, recreation management, and next request services for township
operations. Uh we would like to go ahead and begin the process of moving uh towards Civic Plus as our new website. Um, Civics Plus platform is actually provided through state contracts either
through Dell or another provider, SHI and um we did um get quotes from Dell to provide the Civic Plus platform to us and uh we are going to ask that you award that contract or authorize the
purchase of that through uh state through the state contracting process. process. Resolution number 299 is a resolution authorizing an increase in the not to exceed amount for Gringanger, who is a contract participant in the New Jersey
Estate approved purchasing cooperative contract for facilities maintenance and repair and operations uh and industrial supplies. And uh Mr. Chapman, if you could give me just a
brief synopsis of what these services are specifically related to. All righty. Once again, so it's just a mixture. So some of it with some plumbing supplies that we got from JFK. So capital expenses um uh PPE protective
equipment through clean communities grant is just increasing the amount so we can pay the bills that we have. That's all. >> All right. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> And don't go away yet. May I have a question here? Uh resolution number uh 300 is a resolution authorizing the
township to establish a not to exceed contract with national highway products. Um, again, another participant in the New Jersey state approved purchasing cooperative to purchase sign blanks, and I just want to affirm that these are the
sign blanks for the proposed new street signs. >> Yes, it was the wish of the township manager to get that done this year. So, we just wanted to get that on this last agenda. That's for the street signs that we presented two council meetings ago. Yes. >> All right. And those are all the
resolutions and ordinances being presented to you for consideration this evening. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Harris. At this time, we will have public comment on agenda items only. This public comment is for any of the things that have been presented in the meeting um up
until this point and the ordinances and resolutions that are on the agenda. Um, please state your name and address when you come up to the microphone. And, uh, there are some cards in the back um, if
you need to be contacted afterwards, if we have to follow up with you, um, for additional information so that we have your information. Public comment is now open. This public comment is for two minutes. Hello, Mariam Saluki. Um, I live at 279
Tiffany Lane here in Willingboro and this is the first meeting I've attended in many, many years. And I'm certainly glad that I did because of the presentation given by the economic development committee. I was really impressed with that. But my question or
concern was that the suggestions or the proposals willing um commercial um sites and residences have been empty for an extreme I mean for an exceptionally long time and so I was kind of surprised councilwoman um Peron when you mentioned
what are the challenges or have we approached the people responsible for renting those places about what they would recommend that should have been done I would have thought a long time ago. They also talked about um retail and industries in the township where and
what kind of retail 405 million dollars in leakage is quite a bit but where and what do you think the residents of this town are going to want to buy stay here in town to buy? So I'm real curious and I thought it might be helpful for me.
I'm not that economically astute, but if you would maybe in one of your presentations or in something that you're going to present to the community, maybe do um let us know what kind of businesses will help impact our taxes. What do we need to do to either
lower those taxes or to do something to impact them? Because I know we have businesses here, but do those businesses pay taxes? I know as a business person here myself, I don't remember ever paying any Willingboro taxes. So, who pays them? Who are we trying to recruit
to come in and help our economic situation? I think that that's really important. Um, the other thing is there was a lot of stuff that I heard that I didn't even know about. How are we getting information out to our community about what's available? I didn't even know we had an economic development committee. And while I was sitting
there, I went to the website and I don't see it listed or I wouldn't know where to go into which department to find that out. So if there is something to to get the word out to people so that we know where we can get this kind of information and
>> thank you Dr. Saluki your time is up. >> Okay, good. I just want to say we can't hear and so you all that includes all of you and that includes even people who are coming up to make this presentation. You need to have some speakers in the back for those of us seniors who have hearing problems because I heard nothing
she said and very little of what Dr. Worthy said because you guys talk so low or you're not talking into the microphone. So if this is for public people for us to know, we do we would like to hear. So please check out the sound system in here and let's get it improved. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Dr. Zuki. Any [clears throat] other public comment? Seeing none, this public comment is now closed. Oh, we have one more. >> Good evening. My name is Ricardo
Thirstston. I live at 22 Holton Lane. I've been here a few times. Excuse me. on the future. >> Um, my question is about >> I guess I'll direct it to Mr. Harris
regarding um street repaving. Uh, I spoke to this about this a couple of times back that I've been here. Um, and I know the last time I was here the engineer did a report they did maybe like excuse me I think it was in 2023
20 streets in that year. And my question is what pl that I asked then what plans do we have for doing repaving the rest of the streets in Williamboro? I lived on 22 whole lane and the last time my street was paved I think it was like
2012 if later than that. So again I was told that the streets are being looked [clears throat] at based on how bad they are as to when they get listed to be done. Um,
my speed is very bad. Even though it don't, like I said, coming into turning into the corner into the street on both ends is real bad. [snorts] And I know it's not that important where it's not big potholes and stuff like that. And I want to commend Mr. Harris
again. There was a couple big potholes that I spoke to him about. He had those taken care of and that was great. But my concern is, like I say, we we we paved Veteran Parkway. We pave Salem Road or Vans Sky, these big roads, but we don't
pay pave none of the interior places. We neglect them and they're really bad. And I just would like to have somebody look at that and start making plans to start repairing those streets. I mean, you can do one or two in addition to all these
other big projects that they have. Let's pay attention to the interior of the district that's the CL County. >> Thank you, Mr. Thirst. All right. Seeing no other, this public comment is now closed. Mr. Harris, just to respond to um those
public comments. Um and I guess this would be for um our marketing and for the clerk's office. For our citizen leadership forms, um they are listed on the website. Correct.
Okay, Mr. Harris, is there anything else um that can be done to market the boards and commissions um to the township so that residents know about them? >> That's a good question and I don't really know that I have an answer to
that question right now. Something that we can discuss. You know, we make information available through Willingboroough Connect. We make information available on our website. Um, we send out and share information on all of our social media. Um, but we
can't make people engage with us, but we provide the information. So I I don't know how to encourage persons to tap in to these s resources and I'm hoping that when we transition our website it will
be a little more user friendly and may encourage a little more participation and some of the components that they have would make make it a little more u um accessible and available to the residents. Um but that's really all that I can offer in response to that
particular question right now. Okay, >> council. Um, what about and I think when they did give their presentation today, they did speak about having a website. So, that would be one way. Um, however, with regards to all of the committees,
perhaps putting them on our calendar when they meet. So, once the committee is established as far as their leaders for the year, they could let us know what days they meet. Um, this way we can place it on our bulletin. um economic development is meeting today
or something like that. Um or actually place a place of their reports that they want to submit what the committee has met about things that they think might be helpful for the community and if they're inviting the community to attend one of their meetings or an event that they may be holding have help them
advertise their meetings and any event that they're having on our Facebook page. That's another thing we can do. But most importantly, the calendar. This a suggestion. >> Okay. Thank you for that subject suggestion, council. Um and Mr. Paris,
if you can have um your staff, especially on the online calendar for any events That I see we're having some technical difficulties. >> Okay. Are we back recording? Okay, we got the thumbs up. Um, so as I
was saying, uh, PSCG is in the in is really beginning their first year, um, in their repaving project, um, which is going to encompass about 80% of the streets in Willing Barrow. So, we are working in tandem with them. um it
doesn't make sense for us to pave a road for them to come back behind it and tear it up again to do their gas line pay uh placements. So again, I'm asking Willing Barrel residents to be a little patient in that regard. Um I made a commitment
by 2026 that the streets that Willing that PSCG has already done will all be re repaved by then. But moving forward, they will be continuing to to interject into other streets. And again,
we don't want to pave a road and then a year later for them to come in and tear it up. >> Okay. So, the ones that PSCG has already done the gas line maintenance on, those will be fully repaved in 2026. >> Yes. >> All right.
Thank you for that. >> Council Mintosh. And may I would just ask um because uh Mr. Thirstston has been here multiple times that we just keep them updated um just or just be a little bit more specific just for um that Holton Street.
>> Yes. >> Um to make sure, you know, even if it's not happening immediately, he understands, you know, when it's happening and that it's not lost and it's not off the radar. >> Absolutely. All right. Um, moving right along,
Madame Clerk, the ordinances. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, our first ordinance up for public hearing and final adoption tonight is ordinance 2025-24. I'd like to open the public hearing on ordinance 2025-24 titled ordinance amending and
supplementing chapter 342 of the code of the township of Willingboro entitled taxi cabs to update and expand regulations pertaining to limousines and rename chapter 342 of the code to taxi cabs and limousines. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this
ordinance only, please do so. Good evening, mayor, members of council. My name is Tom Coleman. I'm an attorney uh with the firm of Raymond Coleman and Heold. I'm appearing here this evening on behalf of Class Act Limo or First Class Limo and uh my client, Mr. John
Deo, who is the uh principal owner of um excuse [clears throat] me, of that company. Um, I'm not here to in any way discourage you from adopting uh the ordinance. And as your clerk mentioned, this is a reboot and a refreshment of
what you have on the books. Um, I would ask though that um the the council um consider uh three modest uh revisions to the ordinance that frankly um I I don't believe there's any legal basis for the township to include those provisions.
and and in that my client is the only legally permitted um uh limousine company in um the township [clears throat] right now. It directly affects him. Okay. And if mad mayor, if I could just
briefly go through those, I I um apologize m Mr. Holt, I apologize, Mr. Holt for getting my correspondence to you late today. Um, okay. I we sent it about 1:30 this afternoon for my assistant, but we'll we'll make sure you
get another copy this morning, tomorrow morning. >> [clears throat and cough] >> Um, Madame Mayor, the um there's a provision um in the ordinance u that requires um the township's police department to
determine the fitness and the cleanliness of the cars u that are to be licensed. My [clears throat] my client um has a state inspection by the division of motor vehicles each year. uh the statute, the state statute provides uh
self-regulation of um uh those vehicles post uh DMV inspection and um um I would defer to the police um and and your chief uh but I'm I'm wondering if if um the police department
is um ready and up to speed to be inspecting vehicles that have already been inspected by the Division of Motor Vehicles. And second, cleanliness. Uh, subjective term. Um, I say tomato, you may say tomato. Um, I'm I'm wondering um, my
client's been in the business for close to 30 years. Um, has a impeccable track record of safety and cleanliness um, in in the town. So, I would ask that that provision completely be um, stricken. Uh there's a provision in the ordinance
that deals with the posting of rates um in the vehicles. That that provision is really applicable to taxi cab. Um my client um has a a significant array and number of vehicles that go all over the
state um in the tri-state area and the rates uh vary on um the the length, the duration, the location, the drop off times. weekends and holidays. It just it it's impossible and really impractical
for uh my client to post um any specific rates in their vehicles. Finally, um the the the ordinance provides for the appointment of the township clerk um as the POA as the as
the uh power of attorney for my client when my client play uh establishes their insurance with um the the township. There's no legal basis for that. My client already establishes the director of the division of motor vehicles as the
power of attorney. So, um, if there's some legal authority why we have to separately appoint, um, the the power of attorney as as the clerk, I I'm more than willing to listen to that. But I I would ask that these three modest changes um be included. Um, the these
are changes, Madame Mayor, um that would not um I would consider material would not send you back to a first reading. I know there's probably a zest to get this done by the end of the year. So I think you could probably um consider these this evening in in adoption. Mr. Deico,
do you have any comments? >> Well, the the definition of limousine as you have it defined in here includes Ubers and lifts. There's no there's no exclusion of Ubers and lifts.
Is he asking a question? Okay. >> So, plus I don't really agree with the licensing of per vehicle. I have I have a merkant license. I've had a merkant license of willing bro for
25 years for the business, not for each separate vehicle. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Those are our comments. We hope we would incorporate those models changes in if the ordinances to be adopted this evening.
>> Thank you. >> Or the governing body proceeds like a minute to speak with Mr. Coen. Oh, hang on. On this, can we just uh table it? >> Um, so because it's the last meeting of
December, if you if we don't pass it, it would die and we would just reintroduce it next year or >> you could add it to the >> the December 22nd meeting. >> We're not going to have time. Uh yeah, that's fine >> to advertise for this.
>> If we are making material changes and I have to readvertise again, then we won't have time for the 22nd meeting. >> Okay. >> We could table it and yeah, go back to it at like old business
if you'd like. And >> Okay. >> Okay. Well, um I think we we would need a recess because I wouldn't want to go through the next one is dealing with taxi cabs
and limitations as well, >> which is um part of the conversation for vehicle >> real changes that would be warranted on that. >> Okay. >> And I'd like to discuss it further too because I don't agree with everything he
said. So, I want the opportunity to see whatever he emailed Mr. um Halt as well as I think um Mr. Halt should have an opportunity to speak with him, but um I don't feel like we should rush this at all. They he listed a lot of things that he thinks we shouldn't have on there
like cleanliness. It's co it needs to be cleaned. So, that's one thing. But um if we pull it then maybe 2026 since he has since he just emailed it to our attorney at 1 p.m. today. He can't expect us to just agree with everything he just said
and we don't have the time as a council to discuss this and for our attorney to see what he sent to us and for the opportunity for him to speak with him. So as far as I'm concerned it's a it's it dies here and we started from fresh in 2026 since it is the final reading.
It dies today. That's my thought. >> Okay. Um, is that the will of council that we table this until 2026? >> I'm fine with that, Madam Mayor. I'm not quite sure of the the proper procedure procedural way to handle it, but I'm
fine with waiting until the 26. >> Is it table or is it done? Does it? >> Yeah. So, Madame Clerk or Mr. First of all, how will we proceed on this? If we are going to hold this ordinance until next year, >> if you're going to hold it until next
year, this ordinance will die at this point. >> Okay. So, we don't take any action. >> You don't have to take any action. >> All right. Same for 20 >> 25 2025-25.
>> All right. Um so Madame Clerk will um we won't take action on those two ordinances. >> Um Mr. Holt, because I advertised for the public hearing for 2025-25. >> Did I still open it? >> Yes. Okay.
Um, Madame Mayor, if you're ready for me to proceed. >> Yes. >> Um, so our next ordinance for public hearing is um 2025-25. I'd like to open the public hearing on ordinance number 2025-25 titled ordinance amending chapter 150-9 of the
township code entitled fees for licenses and permits to permit collection of unpaid mercantile licenses and ad limo fees. Anyone wishing to come forward to comment on this ordinance, please do so. >> Okay. >> Seeing no other public, I'd like to
close public comment on this ordinance. And I understand that it's the will of the council to not take any action on this. >> Yes. For the moment. Thank you. In regards to the resolutions, um, council, are there any resolutions that
you'd like to pull from a consent agenda? Okay. Council P. >> Okay. Resolution 929, Resolution
I'm I'm sorry, I said it wrong. Resolution 292, 2092, and 2025 296. Okay. Anything else? Seeing none, I'd like to propose and
consent agenda for resolutions 2025- 291, 2025-293 through 2025-295 and resolutions 2025-297 through resolution 2025-300. So move.
>> Second. Moved by Councilwoman Macintosh, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Mintosh, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy,
>> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion to approve the same? >> A move. >> Second. Moved by Councilwoman Macintosh, seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron,
>> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes. >> Thank you. Resolution for separate discussion. We have resolution 2025-292,
resolution for the budget transfers of the township of Willingboroough to meet requirements for operating the affairs of the township. Can I get a motion to discuss? >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by Councilwoman Pun, seconded by Deputy Mayor Rney. Discussion.
>> Actually, um, I turned the page over. So, I saw all the information on the back. So, I'm okay with voting on it. I didn't want you to repeat all the numbers again, so I just let you >> Oh, okay. >> I'm okay with voting on it now. Okay. Over and I could see everything on the back. >> Yeah, it's all there. >> I didn't see it before.
>> Okay. I'm okay with that one. You want >> All right. Any other discussion? Seeing none, roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Mintosh, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy, >> yes. >> Mayor Whitfield, >> yes.
>> Thank you. >> Our next resolution for separate discussion is resolution 2025-296, resolution authorizing the extension of the contract for custodial services. Can I get a motion to discuss? >> So moved. Moved by Councilwoman Poron, seconded by
Councilman Anderson. Discussion. Madame Mayor. Council P. Thank you. Um, I did ask the clerk and Mr. Harris, township manager, to forward to me the contracts for Lee's Pristine
Cleaning Services. Thus far, they did send me the contracts uh beginning in 2022 to date. Uh I do recognize that Mr. Harris um is recommending that we just renew um and give them an extended 12
months for this company. My issue is the price. 2022 year to 2023 uh the agreement was $340,000. 2024 to 2025.
They move up agreement was $478,000. Now 202526, Mr. Harris says he's renewing the contract and increasing it to $1 million. 900. What is What is the figure there? 900,000.
Read it. It's $1 million. 9005 900. I want you to read it, Mr. Harris. What's What does it say here? Okay. Increasing the base contract amount from $478,35852 to $9567174. That is the total of the two-year
contracts, the two individual year contracts. They're two contracts at $497,000 a year. So the total of the two contracts >> is 900 >> 900,000. We're not increasing the contract to 900. >> That's what it says here. It says in Okay, let me read it because if it then
maybe we need the way I'm reading this is what it says. It says and there's a little typo. So I'm going to read it as with the correction. Now therefore be it resolved the township committee of the township by the township committee of the township of Willingboroough County
of Burlington, state of New Jersey on the 16th day of December 2025 in open public session that the township council hereby awards an extension of the existing contract for an additional 12 months commencing on January 1st, 2026
in accordance with NJSA4811- -15 to Le Pristine Cleaning Services increasing the base contract amount from $4700,000 $358,52
to 956,7174. >> It says you're increasing it >> for the 12 months. It doesn't say 24 months. So, what I'm seeing here is they're going from their base and you're increasing. It says it literally increasing the base contract amount from
478,000 to 956,000 in the 12 months not 24 months. I mean yeah council if I may it does say um in that same parag paragraph that you were reading in the second whereas it
does say um would like to execute um said option for an additional 12 month commencing January 1st 2026 ex ending December 31st 2026. Um, so
that increases the base contract amount. It it's it's ex it's adding that additional 12 months to the contract. >> The paragraph that I just read where it says now there be resolved. Is that what you were just reading? Cuz I >> No, I was reading in the second whereas >> Okay. Whereas fin
>> taking the option of adding an additional 12 months. >> So why would he put where the there be resolve increasing the base contract? because we had a one-year contract with a one-year option. So, he's taken the one-year option. So, that original
contract amount, >> it adds the um the additional year to the base amount. >> I would have just thought it meant it would have just said renewing the contract for this figure, not >> No, because we're not renewing the contract. We're not signing a new contract. We're adding an additional 12 months.
>> Jason saw this already, but it's not an increase. No. >> Okay. Okay. Those are my concerns. Okay. All right. Any other questions on that? Seeing none, roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron? >> Yes. >> Councilman Anderson?
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy? >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Those are all your resolutions tonight. >> We do have an executive session. >> We do have an executive session. Um, all
right. We have uh no treasures report at this time and no minutes to approve at this time. Madam clerk, your clerk's report. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, so as we round out the year, um, just some quick updates. Um, to keep you up to date on
the solicitors in town. We've had no new applications come in. Um, I'm sure they don't really want to be walking in the cold, but they do have their solicitation permit. um until December 31st of this year. Um the solicitor the current companies that are legally
allowed to solicit in town are Trinity Solar, Topline Roofing, Home Solutions, Home Smart First Advantage, GreenStar Exterior, EcoShield Pest Control, and Allied Experts. Like I said, their permits um all expire December 31st,
2025. We're sending out letters to them to let them know that, you know, coming January 1st, you can't keep soliciting until you come back and redo the application process. Um, so, uh, that is coming up down the pike. Um,
continually I'd like to remind dog owners in town that depending on if they have a one-year or three-year dog license through the town. Um, that will also be expiring on December 31st as well. If residents are unsure when their dog license expires, you can call my
office. We can let you know. Um, after January, owners will incur a late fee of $15. So, we want to try and get you all licensed before then. Um, and then finally, I'd just like to remind residents that our 2026 reorganization meeting will be held at the Kennedy
Center on January 6, 2026 at 6 p.m. Um, and then other than that, I just like to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday, and I'm excited for what's to come in 2026. Thank you, Madame Clerk. All right. Um, any questions for our
clerk on her report? Seeing none, we'll move right along. Unfinished business. Um, Councilwoman Perum, do you have any other updates on Hometown Heroes project? >> Well, the last update was supposed to
put together a um resolution, a draft. I'm not sure if we I didn't see a draft come through. I did send information to um our clerk um with regards to the details that I
currently had um received and um just some preliminary information as far as duration. I know we talked about whether or not we're going to leave the flags up for that's >> Yes, I did in the um >> it's in our packet.
Mhm. >> So, this is it. I have to look at it then, but maybe. >> Okay. >> So, we do have um that uh draft resolution in our packets um for council's review. Um, if there are any
changes or anything that uh you'd like to be added or uh modified from that, please let our clerk know and we'll make those changes um and work towards getting this program up and running in 2026.
>> Thank you, Sam. >> All right. And then um the landscaping and edging throughout the township, Mr. Harris, were you able to send that plan out to council? tomorrow. >> Okay. All right. So, I know um that was
a request of yours uh council pron as well. So, all right. Any new business? Um I have a concern. I'm going put it in the new business, I guess. >> Okay. Council on.
>> Thank you. I know we just we had a couple of meetings reviewing our budget for 2026. I'm bringing the concern uh of spending as it relates to the jobs festival. It is a nice event. Um however, I I think that we need to be a little bit more
conscientious about how much we're spending as pertaining to our revenue expense. I did ask Mr. Harris if he could send me a report on um the past four years of the expenses of a jazz festival uh compared to our revenue. So
in summary um in 2022 we spent $130,000 and revenue was $35,000. In 2023 we spent $150,000 revenue was 64,000. In 2024 we spent $170,000.
revenue was 46,000 and in 2025 we spent $29,000 and revenue $57,000. So as you can see with the revenue we are not even making even we're not coming close to receiving anything. Um it is just strictly an
expense and how I do love community activities. The people that come to the jazz festival are not the community of Willingboro. They're coming from all over different areas. And the people of Willingboro just cannot afford these
rates. So, I think going 2026, I don't want to see the jazz festival go away, but we need to really with the council, I'm just bringing to your attention, really look at how much we're spending for this event compared
to what we're receiving. Just wanted to bring that to your attention. >> Okay. Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Counciloman Peron, I I agree 100% uh with what you said and the council has requested
year-over-year um for um more fidiciary responsibility with the Jazz Vest. Um I know for 2026 there's supposed to be sponsorship packages going forward. Those sponsorship packages in the past have not been very comprehensive or very
lucrative for the town. Um I know that Mr. Ducket isn't will be involved with the 2026 planning and he's beginning those plans now. Um, but I definitely I agree with you in terms of, you know, the amount of money that's been spent. Um, each year we're asked to put in more and more money, but the return isn't
there. Um, and while it's not supposed to necessarily be a money maker for the town, we do strive to break even or come close as it is a wonderful amenity for uh for the town. We definitely don't want to see it go away. But I think with new leadership um and new um a new
vision for understanding how there are different revenue streams to promote an event like this to have those sponsorships um how we go about setting vending fees and things like that. Um I believe we can get some better financial return and we can probably ask Mr. Harris to have Mr. Ducket give us some
financial projections um before we start committing more money to the 2026 Jasp. So thank you for bringing that up. >> Yes. Yes. And I'll just add that um during our budget hearings, we did discuss this um the funding for the jazz
festival, how that has increased um year-over-year. So, I I am in agreement. I definitely don't want to see the jazz festival go away. I think the last jazz festival was one of the best jazz festivals that we've had uh to date, and
I got a lot of good reviews from residents on that. Um, so we definitely don't want to necessarily see the quality go down, but we need to find a way to bring in more revenue on that event. Um, so thank you for bringing that up. >> All right. Any other new business?
>> Just um, >> I just wanted to put um, one of the residents that spoke uh gave a suggestion about speakers in the back. Um, maybe that's something we can look into. Are there speakers in the back or not? I don't >> They're in the ceilings. You can see
them on the tiles. There are speakers >> um >> throughout the courtroom. >> Okay. >> To turn it up. Okay. But it's the volume. >> Okay. So, we already have it here. >> All right. At this time, we'll open it for our general public comment section.
This is our general public comment section. Each resident will have four minutes. Um, please state your name and address when you come to the microphone and fill out a card in the back and hand it to either our deputy clerk or our township clerk so that they can um
provide any followup if necessary. Public comment is now open. >> Asalam alaikum, which means peace and blessings to you, mayor and the council. My name is Karen Abdul Malik. I live at 75 Tiffany Lane, Willingboro, New
Jersey. First, I want to start off because my comments are really starting with Mr. Ducket in that space. I'm so glad to hear about the theater and the progression of the theater. I came here and uh moved to Willenboro in 1987
and my husband and I very quickly became involved in the Willingberry Wenboro community. So much so that when my husband made transition, he was killed in an accident. Willingboro reached out to me cuz we
didn't know where we could have his janaza. I think Kendall was the one who called me and said you could have it in that auditorium. And so we had that janaz in that auditorium. And I knew right away, I
understood right away that Willingboro, the the township, the the um the the recreation department, they were in community. They were in community with us. A couple years later in 1996, I went
to Mr. McFarland and I asked if we could have the Willingboro Quanza Festival. And Quanza, of course, is uh a holiday that celebrates AfricanAmerican culture and heritage. Anyone can celebrate with
us, but it is about um celebrating our values, our community, and building our community. And with that, you know, I came to him and uh he said yes. And I and Mr. M actually I went to Jill. Jill
went to Mr. McFarland. I think Mr. McFarland went to the council and that was almost 30 years ago and so for 30 years the facility you were you sponsored it with us and I thank you so much for giving us that facility but in
what just happened with the trans the non-transition cuz it wasn't a proper transition with your um with the community the way what what happened to us in the community was horrific.
It was horrific. Um, I called uh Todd Evans to invite him to be on uh to do the open mic for it. I had already heard from Dion Baldton and have an email that says that we had the building on
December 27th. I had an email from her that says I have the email. And the reason the other reason the email came on June 25th was because I was asking about the theater. I saw that the theater I thought the theater was going to be open. I heard her heard news and so she said she would get me in touch
with Mr. Ducket but it wasn't ready yet. And that's why she said but you have the you have the hall. So we we grew to where we had the main hall the new main hall cuz of course the main hall wasn't there before the LRC all of the LRC
because that's how well we grew. And we have like 300 people coming. It truly is. Quanza is a communal event. And so we have the AKA, we have DST, the chapters here, Zetafi Beta, Underground
Railroad, I am Kenny J, the um African-American Inventors, Jack and Jill of Burlington, the NAACP, and my nonprofit. In fact, we all put it, we all sponsor this together. And when I talked to Todd, he said to me, "You
better check with the because I was just following what I always do. I had already known from Deion." So, we had already met met the team had met. We discussed it and I was on my way to ordering the um the yard signs and the
and the cards when he said, "You better check because there's been a big change." I didn't know there was a big change. Um and time is up. I'm sorry, Miss Abdul Malik, your time is up, but um we will be in touch with you to um get the remainder of your
statement. >> All right. I just want you to know it is happening in in Burlington at the Berlin Quaker Center. And I also thank the school board because Dr. Lewis was wonderful, but we couldn't do $8,000 and the school board was going to cut it to half for us. But thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Dr. Malik. U Mariam Saluki again 279 Tiffany Lane and I'm just following up what um Queen Nure was saying about Quanza. I mean you know we know how long Quanza has been here in Willingboro. I mean, we
watched you grow up in Hanza. So, and we know, Nate, that all of you guys know how important it is. So, it's very disturbing to me to see a 30year tradition just be discarded so quickly because according to the message I got from
Queen Nure was that when she found out that we couldn't have it or we weren't on the calendar that she was told that well we just gave it to a wedding maybe one or two hours before she spoke to the person and I'm like that's enough time for you to say look I'm so sorry we made
a mistake we had something else on that today. Um, we're going to have to step back because this is something that has been here. For this to move to Burlington is almost an affront to us because Willingboro is predominantly an
African-American community and this is as she said a communal event. And so I'm I'm and what we had to do to just pull it together. So, I'm I'm really disappointed and um I just want to express my disappointment
and this is not something that I would have expected. We had high hopes for our council. I mean, you know, we've been here, we watched it change. We watched the demographics of this council change. So, this is not an issue that I would think we would ever have had to be
concerned about that a cultural event like this would be something that was just sort of kind of I feel kind of kicked to the side. So unfortunately it is what it is. I'm very happy to know that even with about 10 days of being able to advertise it, we've already
gotten a response of over a hundred people who going to attend over in Burlington. But if any of you have ever been to the one here in Willingboro, this is where that event should be held. So I hope that in the future whenever there's a transition whoever is leaving
whatever there are certain things that you should make sure transition out that we do have a much smoother exchange because I'm not really sure what happened but you know really I'm just want you to know I'm disappointed in that. >> Thank you Miss Saluki.
Good evening again, council. Uh, my name is Ricardo Thirsten. Again, 22 Holton Lane and I just want to reiterate what uh Queen Lord said, Dr. Sugi said because I've been involved with this Kwanza festival since 1996. As you said about the jazz festival,
which I was involved with that when it was in Twin Hills, that's this Quanza festival is something like that jazz festival. It's been going on for so long that it should not have just been tossed to the side or ignored, not even thought about because we've been doing we have
been the last six years or seven years we have been at the Senate U Kennedy Center or the community center doing this program and like she says we have a large turnout of people coming. We have a collective group of people doing it and it's a cultural event. Like I said,
I grew up with this my sons, my kids, my grandkids. To have this did what was done to it this year is an atrocity. And I just want to regulate that to you. >> Thank you, Mr. Thirstston.
Good evening. >> Evening. >> Um, my name is Kendrick Johnson. I am coming on behalf of the Beloved Project of New Jersey. Um, I am the project's new HUD counselor. Just wanted to come and introduce myself to you all and to let you know kind of what we will be
doing there in the offices there in the Kennedy Center. Um, we will be offering group and individual uh counseling there. um home ownership counseling, pre and post-purchase education, uh foreclosure prevention, rental assistance including diversion education, uh assistance for unhoused
individuals, financial management education to include budgeting and credit education and management. Um our goal is to uh foster housing sustainability here in the community um by decreasing foreclosures, delinquencies, and defaults. Um, in
return, we want to make sure that we can uh foster an environment of individual household wealth. Um, and so we are here to serve the community. So, starting in January, there'll be information on the website as to how individuals can register for one-on-one counseling as
well as group education counseling on the Beloved Project uh website and social media channels. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Shirley Dillworth, Newport Lane. Uh, my concern, this is not the first
time that I've been here about the concerns that I have with code enforcement. Okay. I really would like to know how code enforcement is done in the township because it
doesn't appear that it is done the same way it has been done in the past. Now, you know, that's okay. Things do change, but there are certain code enforcement violations
that are not uh given the attention that I think it needs to be given. One of the violations, well, several of the violations are along Northampton Drive.
Okay. If any code enforcement officer would ride along Northampton Drive, you would see some of the things that I'm concerned about. Okay? Now, I'm not going to give any addresses, you know, because I don't
want to be responsible for that, but along Northampton Drive, there are wrecked cars that are covered with tarps, okay? And they are parked on the driveway, you know, and that sort of
conceals it. Uh but there are also vehicles on Northampton Drive that are jacked up, okay, for four or more weeks. So
these are violations that are in these are situations that are in violation, okay, of your own codes, okay? Um but it doesn't seem to no one seem to be doing anything about this. Okay. In addition,
you know, to the two that I just mentioned, trash containers. Okay. Recycle containers are stored in front of the garage. Okay. There are also broken fence. Okay. Uh that have
been broken for at least one year. And uh you know this really concerns me that no one seemed to be doing anything about it. Okay. In addition to the things that I just mentioned, there are vehicle transports that are
parked at Northampton. Uh no, Martin Luther King School. They park there almost every weekend. And I know there are places around in the county where these types of vehicles are supposed to be, you know, parked,
but they seem to have found a place to park at Martin Luther King school. Okay. And also vehicle transporters on Northampton Drive on the weekend, not during the week. So
that's why it is very important for code enforcement people, you know, to get out there uh to take a look. Okay. I'm concerned about it and I hope that whoever is in charge of code enforcement in the township, you know, will at least
do something about it. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Delway. >> You're welcome. All right. Seeing no other public comment, public comment is now closed. Mr. Harris, I'll go to you to start with
uh the responses, please. >> The Quanza event, the booking of the Quanza event. So that was a very unfortunate situation and I I absolutely agree with everything that uh Malik was saying in in regard to
to that um and how it was an injustice. However, and and and I'm sure that she had conversations with um a particular individual in that department at the time, but other than those
conversations, there was no record. There was nothing on the calendar. There were no documentations. There was no contractual agreements that would have indicated that anything was transpiring in the center on that particular day.
And it was very unfortunate that almost simultaneously somebody came in and paid for their wedding that was scheduled was booked to take place in the banquet center that very same day. And and I don't disagree
that unfortunate um but it was something that happened. It wasn't an intentional act against them. is not something that the township was doing to them. It was something that
happened because certain policies and procedures were not followed. Um and we are correcting making adjustments in that particular department to see that some of these deficiencies are finally
put to to rest. And again, I'm very sorry that it occurred, but it was not intentional um to this particular e event. >> Okay. Thank you um for that, Mr. Harris and Miss Abdul Malik. I do um also Dr.
Saluki and Mr. Thirsten. Um you all commented on that event and I I do agree. I' I've never personally been to that Quanza event, but um I know it's been a long-standing tradition here in Willingboro, and it is terribly
unfortunate that um it was not on the books in order to go forward um this year. But we have made um a number of procedural changes in the recreation department to ensure things like this don't happen in the future. Um and we look forward to having the Quanza event
back in Willingboro next year. Anyone else have any uh questions or comments? No. All right, we'll move on um to uh thank you Mr. Johnson for promoting the
HUD counselor at the Beloved Project. Um especially now more than ever in these economic times, it is so important that we um continue to support residents so that they can stay in their homes, do not lose their homes um and and avoid
being unhoused. So um thank you for your services. Thank you Miss Archer for adding this service um to the office at the JFK. And then Miss Dworth about code enforcement. Um Mr. Harris, um can we do
you have a response or should we invite uh Mr. Tonsel up? >> I do, but we can invite Mr. Tonsl up um as as well. Um and again, um I wish that Willingboro had zero code
enforcement violations, but every day somebody is doing something. In my report, I reported in November there were 667 code enforcement violations that were issued. There were 99 cases that were
were brought into compliance. So to say that code enforcement is not doing anything, I don't think that is is accurate representation of what's happening in Willingboro and and I will ask Mr. Tonsl to elaborate and if Chief
Buffs is still in the room, you know, his department is very active in handling these situations, but there are processes and procedures and you know, when the truck is parked there on on Friday, by the time we're ready for it
to get towed on Monday, it's gone. >> So, you know, these are the things that that we are constantly um put our backs up against the wall, but I will defer to Mr. Tonsl and then if Chief Bucks wants to um chime in as well, I would welcome
his comments. >> Good evening, council. >> Good evening. >> Uh per our last discussion on last meeting when it was talked about as far as u Northampton being an issue. Uh I had the code enforcement officer go out
directly to Northampton that next morning. There were 27 notifications given um including trash cans as well as vehicle uh that were parked and not properly
covered. If a vehicle is covered according to our code, it can be parked in the driveway legally. All right. And as far as the vehicles that are parking up at uh MLK, as you know, the school district is
going through a major construction phase and a lot of their vehicles are being parked over there. A lot of the trucks are being parked over there. I talked to the superintendent of the school district at that time. He informed me that they will be using that location to
park many of those vehicles that are involved in that transition. However, uh as far as transport vehicles, um I will have to of course get with uh Chief Bucks if the vehicles are in the street, but uh we do have one code enforcement
officer that works every weekend and that code enforcement officer is responsible for the entire township. It is a [snorts] daunting task at best. However, I will have that individual who works this weekend um circle through uh
Northampton and make sure we cover the street in its entirety. Um there are issues where if we give a citation for a trash can being parked or a trash can being parked, a trash can being placed in the front of the property, sometimes
the next day they put it in the back of the property on the side of the property and the following week it might be back in the front. So, it's an ongoing process. It's an ongoing um battle, if you will, and we are addressing them. Uh we have the code enforcement officer for
Garfield North is is very diligent and has I can show you a list of all the notifications he's given in that particular park. But it is not going to stop tomorrow. It is going to be something that we'll be battling every
day. But uh if I don't have any specific addresses, it's very difficult for me to address the entire street, but I will have them go through there again tomorrow and check the entire street. >> All right. >> All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Telson. >> You're welcome,
>> Chief Bucks. >> Yeah. The only thing that I will add to uh to Mr. Tonsel is, you know, as as far as we are concerned, um is just just call us. Call 911. Um we obviously, you know, similar to what Mr. Tonsel says, you know, we're responsible for the whole municipality. We handle about
45,000 calls for service a year. Um, so if you see something that we don't necessarily see at that time and then we could drive by, not see it or maybe go into a different type of call, see it, and then another call comes out, may not be able to get back to it. But if anyone sees, and this goes for the entire
municipality, something that just isn't, you know, doesn't look right or doesn't seem right or is in a violation of one of our ordinance, call our non-emergency line, call 911. We'll get dispatched out there. now becomes a documentation where if you know where I'll be able to see if
okay we had a violation what did our officers do if officers didn't handle it the correct way we can address the officers so um any violation that you see if you see you know on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 in you know in the afternoon that there's a a vehicle parked at MLK school call us we'll go
out we'll be able to determine what type of vehicle is it supposed to be there if it's not supposed to be there and then we can follow up and either issue an ordinance possibly have it towed. Same thing if it's on the street. We handle anything that's on the street. >> All right. Thank you, Chief Books.
>> All right. And Miss Dworth, I did want to just thank you for bringing those uh violations and and code enforcement issues to our attention. Our residents are our first line of defense and making sure people are following the rules. So,
thank you for bringing those to our attention. And I I assure you that our inspections is on it. All right. And I believe that was all. Is there anything that I'm missing? Councilwoman Mintosh.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um Mr. Harris, um I want to just um circle back to the Quanza event um quickly. Um, I know that while we're changing up and we're revamping the recreational department, um, I would just I don't want to
overstep our bounds as a council, but I can we be made aware like if something that's a big c it's a something of that caliber is brought to our attention. Um, kind of didn't know. I mean, I I heard rumors of that, but I didn't know that
it was um cancelled because of um, you know, maybe a wedding. I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying it would have been nice to know that something an event of that caliber was maybe not going according to plan. Um again, don't want
to overstep, you know, us as a uh the council's um responsibilities, but um it's kind of disheartening to hear like right, you know, in in public um without understand without knowing that that did happen.
>> I don't. and Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Um, Councilwoman, I can speak to that. Um, when I was made aware, it was when Miss Abdul Malik came to my place of business to come bring her concern about Willboro Township issues to my place of business and I was able to have a
discussion um, with her there. I did share with her that there was a transition in recreation and that um, and I spoke to Mr. Harris that evening and again in the morning. I did meet with Miss Spelman um and shared that this particular event like some others
were captured in a separate place not in the my system not reserved through the protocols not with the contractual agreement pay there was there was no documentation so through the transition of recreation there was nothing to transition because it wasn't captured in
the actual system where all the reservations very similar to what happened in October um with an event um where there were changes that had to be made at the last minute to try to accommodate the event and that you know we had challenges back then. Um what I did recommend to Miss Abdul Malik and
sent her a message um about the steps of how to approach the school district. I actually reached out to schoolboard members as well as to the acting superintendent on her behalf and then I documented the process of how to be able to reserve space through the school district not understanding what their
fee structure was. I provided that information. I then followed up again with board members and the assistant superintendent. They explained to me and to Miss Abdul the fee schedule that they have and because of the cost of actual staff, it wouldn't be able to wave um
all those costs. I then followed up with Miss Spelman to see what spaces were available at the JFK Center for the same day and slots of time um where we identified that the LRC, the lower and the upper levels along with classrooms four and five would be available and the
hallways surrounding the business. Um Miss Abdul Malik said none of that was uh satisfactory. They had outgrown all of that space. Um she was I rate on the phone um and proceeded to hang up the phone. Um and so she said it was insufficient. So council did or the
administration, everyone, we tried to work with what we had. Once we found out that the banquet room was no longer available, there are no other spaces of that caliber. Even with the gym, we wouldn't have been able to configure it properly and protect the floor and have
enough tables and chairs to be able to meet the requirements of the event. But none of the other options were suitable uh to Miss Abdul. So we did try to work on we tried to find a a suggestion u Mr. Harris I guess in the future if you write it up as a report to the entire
council um then everybody would have that but we were unable to resolve it. >> All right. Um, thank you for everyone that spoke um this evening. And before we head into
executive session, I will um call for council comments. >> I'd like to I'd like to begin by uh thanking the community for participating, hanging out with us twice a month during the council meetings. uh those who took the time to
actually come into the building as well as those online. Uh thank the manager, his staff, and employees for a prosperous and productive uh 2025. On a sad note, one of our local business owners, uh Seafood Haven, Mr. Tony
Williams, passed away earlier this week. Um so just keep his uh his wife Annette and family in your prayers if you will. Uh thank you for the economic development uh committee for their presentation. Uh thank you to a job well done for Mr. Bradley Chapman. His team
over at public works did a great job on the streets. Um just once again kudos to you guys. [snorts] Um I know this is getting old here, but uh congratulations Mr. Tonsl for surpassing the $1 million mark. You and your team. So thank you
again for that hard work that you guys uh do put in. I'd like to thank my council colleagues for all the work and continued commitment to the Willingboro community that you have shown. I'm almost done. All right. Uh uh finally got to thank my
main man back there, Mr. Gary B. Lowry III. You got to get that third in there. Uh congratulations on receiving a 100% grade on your capstone research paper for your CPM which is certified public
manager course. Uh looking forward to your final um presentation uh in January. And also I'd like to make mention that the um community recreation summit will be held on January 14th,
2026 from 6:00 to 8:30 at the Kennedy Center. and everyone, please have a safe and happy holiday season. >> Thank you, Councilman Anderson. Anyone else? >> Deputy Mayor Worthy.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I echo my my uh council members um sentiments and his retirement speech. Um Mr. uh Bradley Chapman, I want to congratulate you on one year. Thank you for all that you have done for Willboro Township in the year that you've been here. We appreciate your efforts. We appreciate
everyone's efforts, but Mr. Chapman had some big shoes to fill and we just appreciate what you've done um and how you've been able to create a vision and then execute that. Thank you so much. And our very own um Mr. Harris is celebrating his four-year anniversary with us December 21st. Um it's not here
yet, but congratulations in advance. We appreciate what you've done um in stabilizing the municipality. And we do have um some more goals, don't worry. More goals in 2026. um more projects to execute and we'll be
updating our strategic plan and so I look forward to working together with you and the administration on that. But thank you so much for your leadership. We know that um there's a lot of a lot of long long nights and uh very busy days, but we appreciate you and the work that you've done. Thank you to my council colleague and to Mayor Samantha
E. Whifffield for a successful term as year term as mayor for the year. We appreciate your efforts and your sacrifice. Um, happy holidays, Willing B. All right. Anyone else? >> Council Mintosh.
>> Mayor, um, I do again want to echo my other council colleagues. I don't want to repeat it, but um, I just want to take the time to say, um, happy holidays to my community. Community that raised me, um, that nurtured me all these years. Um, I'm glad to be of service
here. Um but I just want to make sure we continue to love one another, continue to be neighbors, continue um to look out for each other. That's going to be my message um every time I'm on this I'm on this DAS. Um I do think community is
very important. We do a lot of legislation, but there's a lot of work. There's a trash uh infrastructure. There's all of that, but when it comes down to it, um we are each other's keepers and we got to continue to be each other's keepers. So, happy holidays. safe safe and um just a
prosperous and abundant uh new year. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman McIntosh. Council P. Yes, thank you. Um I do to echo some of the comments. I do want to thank all of our staff. I appreciate all of you from the police department to EMS
to the fire department to our administrators um to our cleaning crew. Thank you all of you. um we you know to run a municipal we couldn't have done it without you. So you are appreciated and I also want to um a little bit of it's
so funny because um I was going to say something that I think I'll probably work with um Councilman Macintosh maybe next year. Um I just want everyone to be mindful. Yes, we are approaching holiday season. So, I want you to um remember
your um senior neighbors and I really would like for us to um adopt a parent program in Wllingboro um whereby perhaps you know you have a senior member that you know maybe their children are far away or their loved ones have passed away already and you know what there's a
lot of snow out there helping them with their trash can putting it to the front putting it to the back and maybe we could have a list of those senior residents that would need a little bit of help and they could add their name to the adopt a a grandparent program. The
program already exists. Um I'm not creating the program, but we don't have it in Willingboro. And so maybe that's something that we could initiate here after we get the hometown here programs up and running. Um but yeah, just before the program exists, just be mindful. I
know I do it with my neighbors. be mindful of your neighbors and um if you happen to know that they just need a little bit of help, just help them out. And I just want to wish everybody a happy holiday and I'll see you next year. Oh, actually on the 22nd. >> On the 22nd. Yeah.
>> Yeah. One more meeting yet. [laughter] >> Meeting. One more meeting left this year. >> Yeah, that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Peron. Um and lastly, Willing, I do want to um just say thank you. Thank you for a wonderful year this year. Um it has been an honor
and a pleasure to serve you as mayor. Um we've had tremendous growth over the past few years. Um and 2025 was no different. We did pave um some roads. We got some new equipment installed. We improved our amenities here in
Willingboro. Some of those will be opening next year. Um we're paying more attention to our green spaces and upgrading those. Um I it's just really been an incredible experience and I want to thank each and
every one of you um for your participation in that. Um this community is nothing without us residents and the residents of Willing is really where the heart is. So thank you all for everything that you do every day for the community. Whether we see it or not,
whether we call it out or not, whether anyone thanks you or not, I just want to take the opportunity to say thank you for all of you've done in 2025, and I look forward to continuing to grow um and prosper Willing in 2026.
All right. Also, I did want to also thank the fire department, Chief Fernette, Chief Bucks, um our Santa union. Um [laughter] we have a we have a union of Santaas,
but our our Santa union um for all of their love that they poured out to the community in the 2025 Santa Run, the upgraded sleigh is phenomenal. And I know that is the one event that um
Willingboro takes to every resident store. Um it's an incredible experience. I know I rode on the truck. I try to ride on the on the sleigh every year. Um because it's really a great opportunity to not only to see the residents that
you don't typically see. um the elderly residents waving from their window with such excitement, children running out sometimes barefoot without coats, but um to see Santa coming down the street on the sleigh and it really does just get
you in the spirit and brings so much joy um to the community. So, thank you to all those involved, all the hard work, the cold nights. Um some of them were very cold nights. Um and thank you to our Santa Union for bringing joy to
Wellingboro throughout um this season. Um also thank you to the administration for all of the winter events. Our holiday season um has really become something. So I I look forward to um the
continuation and um increased thoughtfulness as we um continue in next year. All right, and that's all I had to say. Happy holidays, Willingber. Happy New Year to everyone. Don't forget
we do have a meeting on the 22nd. Um and also a planning board meeting um that is open to the entire community looking at the master plan on January 12th. Please check the website information on that.
Um January 12th at 6 p.m. correct madame clerk? Um we will be reviewing our new master plan. There are lots of elements, lots of things in there. So, please uh take a look at that and we look forward to seeing you on the 12th and the 14th
as we frame the future of Willingboro. Um we do have executive session this evening. Madame clerk. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um we have an executive session tonight which is resolution 2025-301. Resolution
2025-301, resolution authorizing a closed executive session in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act for attorney client privilege and contractual negotiation matters. Can I get a motion? >> So move. >> Second. Moved by Councilman Anderson,
seconded by Mayor Winfield. >> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron. >> Yes. >> Councilman Anderson. >> Yes. Councilwoman Macintosh. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, we need to extend the meeting.
Do we need to come out of executive first? >> Yeah. Can we come out of Can I get a motion to come out of executive session? >> Second. Moved by Councilwoman Pearl and seconded by Deputy Mayor Worthy. >> Thank you. We're now out of executive
session at 9:55 p.m. Uh, can I get a motion to extend the meeting? What do you >> um until 10:30? >> Can I get a motion to then >> 10:40? 10:30. [laughter] >> Can I get a motion to extend the meeting
till 10:30 p.m. >> So moved. Moved by Councilwoman Pron, seconded by uh Councilwoman Mintosh. >> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron, >> yes. >> Councilman Anderson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh. Deputy Mayor Dr.
Worthy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion to go back into executive session? >> Second. Moved by Councilwoman Baron, seconded by Mayor Whitfield. That's me.
You want me to read? >> Um, the resolution, we're going into executive session for attorney client privilege and contract negotiations. >> Oh, resolution 2025-301.
301 resolution authorizing a closed executive session for attorney client privilege and contract negotiation. >> All right. Um, roll call. >> Councilwoman Peron? >> Yes. >> Councilman Anderson? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Macintosh? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dr. Worthy?
>> Yes. >> Mayor Whitfield? >> Yes. >> Thank you. All right, madame clerk, >> can I get a motion to come out of executive session? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Councilwoman Pon, seconded by Councilwoman Mintosh.
All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right. Like to [clears throat] make I'd like to ask for a motion for adjournment. >> So move >> that's so quick. Moved by Deputy Mayor
Worthy, seconded by Councilman Anderson. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Good evening, Willing Burl, and happy holidays. Oh, we are adjourned at 10:32.