##VIDEO ID:MyLezTwGMyM## [Music] hello and welcome to wooders the best town around my name is John McCormack I'm the mayor of this great town and we're here today for the always Pleasant task of recognizing uh heroic police officers who put their in the line to save other people in this case it's an incident that occurred uh several months ago where the police officer well I'll read it let's just do that it's much easier um whereas on November 3rd 2024 the Woodbridge Police Department Communication Center dispatched all available units to the Woodbridge Terrace apartment complex in response to a 911 report of a structure fire engulfing several occupied Apartments upon arriving at the scene Sergeant Scott horbath in coner with traffic invest Ator Adam kwick and officer Steven Doyle Andre karski Alexander rebella Jared immediately established a fire scene perimeter and initiated evacuation procedures caswick a volunteer firefighter located residents trapped on the second floor balcony and deployed a rescue ladder officers qarin rebell climbed the ladder and guided one resident to safety while caswick Doyle and Jarrett secured a second ladder and a Reeves rescue basket officers Doyle and Jarett scaled the ladder and a concert with Kar in rello transferred the elderly resident to The Reef basket and safely evacuated the residents from the second floor balcony where Sergeant Scott horbath traffic investigator Adam caswick and officer stemon Doyle Andrew karski Alexander reell and Aaron Jared utilizing training and experience functioned as a team to secure the fire scene locate the tra residence on the second floor fire and Gulf in the fire and Gulf apartment balcony and initiated initiated rescue procedures to safely Evacuate the residents for transport to St barest Hospital uh for treatment for burns and smoke inhilation ladies and gentlemen these six people save somebody's life we do this all the time every couple of months we give out awards for police officers fire officials for EMTs who save people's lives this is how they're trained this is the experience they have this is just amazing what men and women of the Woodbridge Bri Department do all the time I keep saying it all the time to the best police department in the state of New Jersey and they keep going out and they keep proving so I present to you six hero cops who say that somebody's alive right now because of the effort they had way back on November 3D get interview to introduce the council first all the way to the far right councilman a large and former Woodridge police officer Brian small councilman large L bet hesus councilman large bre Cara fourth W councilman ver Patel fifth W councilwoman Debbie mean first word councilwoman Sharon molof third word councilman Cory Spiller current vice president councilman of large Kyle Anderson current council president for one more meeting Deputy Police director Joe nisi Police director Bob hner uh let me first ask um usually I ask for a volunteer to speak I guess it's either the caswick right I think it's going to be orb what do you thinkon you want to bring daddy up embarrassing oh Olivia you want me to bring daddy up no yeah okay come on just tell us you know you're the sergeant tell us about the scene tell us how he it was and what's going through your mind as you see somebody tra in val so the scene was very hectic we arrived on scene there was multiple uh uh fire departments on scene uh headquarters received the call that there was still something trapped um in the building so as everybody's trying to search for it um the officer set up a prer and we actually located the one lady and her son on the back balcony it's on a second floor so there's no way just to climb it so best get her caswick obtain the ladder from the front we got the ladder to the back of the building and put it up but then realized that one ladder would not do the job because the the elderly female was not able to actually get on the ladder and clim down so we obtained a second ladder and then the first Rees and secured uh the female in the basket and then slid her down the ladder and it was a great effort by everybody out there she's a great job so well forgive my ignorance but how did that become something that the police did and not the fire wor there it was anite ever the fire department was concentrated in the front where the fire was concentrated which forced the residents of that department to the back of the building okay and that's how we thought that set up okay so so have you you been involved in life St before yes nothing like why to to get two ladders up there to get a s to secure somebody in the basket and then bring the down safe leaves I've never been part of that before R thank you very much want the spot too it sounds like you had a big role here you are a firan so many of our police officers are either iren or EMTs or have all kinds of additional training besides just being a cop so maybe you can say how that helped you he Sergeant or manag St Yeah so basically up here with they did a fantastic job because they have no firef training experience and car a 35t extension ladder it's no easy fask if you never done before as well as a 24t but uh they did a fantastic job and working as a team is why we were able to save these two people have any of you ever used this re bucket thing before any the cops ever used this re thing right you have used it yeah itself it's just a stretcher okay okay it's not a special piece of equ no okay okay I've never heard of myself but I'm a civilian it's not wild all right anybody else want to say anything probably not all right let me ask our Police director Bob hner to say a few words thanks mayor you know it's great the mayor is Administration Council they always come out and support our police officers and recognize the outstanding job they do but this is what the men and women is Police Department do um what a great job they all did the teamor and they really did put themselves in a very uh B position they could have been hurt uh they put that aside to help these people love great job [Applause] uh former officer small likes to offer a comment on a police delated uh incident you want to come up sure I just want to congratulate all the officers here every time there's Awards here I feel older and older because now Sergeant horbath is actually the only one I physically worked with uh before I left which was 13 long years ago next month but you know in a split second these men and women have to make life and death decisions they don't think about what's going on at home think about I got to do this tomorrow I got boom you have to make a decision and risk their own lives constantly so I just want to congratulate you a great job Adam I thank you for staying with the volunteer fire department I did it but a lot of he work I don't know if you did but it's a good it's a good thing but the mayor's right there's so many Volunteer Fire offers that are police officers good thing [Applause] congratulations thank you mayor so real quick they're kind of underscoring what they did uh myself Council small councilman bow when you roll up to a scene like that and we have several catchphrases it's blowing out every window it's ripping every catchphrase it was going with this but most people know wood Center Drive is down here and then there's a hill and then there's the tow houses the condom indans everywhere up here and in the middle are the wires so when the fire truck showed up they couldn't get the ladder truck the bucket up to the balcony so they're basically taking everything and doing all that knowing they're going up an incline it's blowing out of every window opening door known to mankind and one thing with our W police department and our fire districts they don't yell they don't scream they don't start circling around and doing the 360 Circle you know what I mean um professionalism and we all work together but seriously and that it's one thing to roll up to a one room burnout in a vacant house but that setting middle of the night is always tough crucial you know everyone's sleeping dead of the night um I tip my cap off to head thank [Applause] you anybody how about uh land say how many times has your dad gone to see you play football or baseball your school events and now you have a chance to come here and see him get an honor right you want to come out and say something oliv you sure s what if I bring Santa what if I bring the microphone to you and you just say a few words anybody I any the kids how about this one want to say something no all right folks well this I once again just can't say how proud I am think about that think about a it's a regular ladder right it's just a ladder and how high did how many runs like how H you go on the lab 30 ft well it was a 35t extension that's so almost 35 ft in the air you're up where you could easily slip fall it's not probably not the most dirtiest thing in the world you've ever climbed so this that's accur it's just it's amazing and to think that two people on ladders with a person in between them going down slowly in the middle of a fire scene in the dark it's just amazing that they saved these two people's lives just absolutely amazing so once again congratulations there's a proclamation for each of you it all reads the same thing Sergeant Scott how long you guys on Force year a year and a half two years how about you car six how many years so two guys with less than two years on the force just particip ated in a life-saving exercise and two guys go rise for the pledge to the flag I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stand one nation under God indivisible with liy And Justice For All Rise remain standing as we uh observe a moment of silence I would like to acknowledge a uh 198 85 graduate of Colony High School a good friend of mine and a retired North police officer who is unfortunately being taken off of Veno later tonight is name is Landry Johnson I ask that you keep him and his family in prayer notice requirements of the open media will have satisfied concerning this meeting the home news review and the Star Ledger published on October 6 2023 a copy of the schedule was posted on the municipal bulletin board should be so noted in the minutes of this meeting councilman Bower councilwoman Deus councilman parara here councilwoman McCulla here councilwoman M here councilman Patel here councilman small here vice president Spiller here president Anderson here can I get a motion to approve the minutes from November 26 2024 motion second any questions or comments from Council all in favor I I opposed eyes have it B beginning with second reading ordinances this evening you only have one listed as letter A this is the amendment to the traffic and parking uh ordinances chapter 7 with regards to handicap parking on Lee Street and Greenbrook Avenue can I get a motion that this ordinance be taken up on second third reading the public hear and be open motion second questions or comments from Council all in favor I I oppos eyes have public hearing is now open on letter a letter A bon here no comment from the public and I get a motion that the public he be Clos the the mayor for approval as required by law motion second any questions or comments from Council all favor I I oppos I have there are no first reading ordinances to even but before you are 68 resolutions for consent moove 68 motion second any questions or comments from Council uh yes Mr Mitch i' like to abstain from number 68 please so no is any other comments uh I'm abstaining from 34 please4 any other comments Mr main from number 29 any other comments Mr Mitch obstain from number 68 any other comments Mr Mitch I like to obain from number 20 please any other comments Mr Mitch I apologize I will be abstaining on resolution number 22 any other comments the other one where you see M I'll take care of thank you you're welcome 18 I'm sorry resolution 18 thank you sir y all in favor I opposed I have that's all I have thank you we'll now go into our public comments portion of tonight's meeting When approaching the microphone please state your name and what section of the township or state you live in uh you will have a onetime opportunity to speak up to 5 minutes um all videotaping must be uh performed from the rear of the room in the designated area there will be no shouting uh please be respectful of one another and please be sure that there if there are any signs or any props or posters that they stay in the in the uh in the uh out of the aisle and uh if they stay with you um so that prevent any tripping hazards or anything and I'll give you a one minute warning good evening council members my name is Nicole patterer and I'm a resident of the avanel section of Woodbridge so I'm here tonight to Pro propose an ordinance prohibiting the operation of interactive animal facilities within our Township so as you know we've been here before there's a growing concern Nationwide regarding the welfare of animals and Facilities that house Exotic Aquatic and farm animals for public interaction these facilities frequently struggle to meet the complex physical and behavioral needs of these animals leading to significant distress inadequate living conditions and potential health risk for both the animals and the public the issues surrounding sequest provide a compelling example multiple sequest locations have faced allegations of improper Animal Care unsafe conditions for visitors and mismanagement furthermore Financial instability including bankruptcies and substantial unpaid debts to hosting malls such as the $381,000 that's currently owed by sequest to boy Bridge Center Mall all has plagued the company these financial difficulties have not only negatively impact local economies but also exacerbate the risk to Animal Welfare due to proper potential neglect and cost cutting measures cquest recent bankruptcy filings reporting less than $1 million in assets against $10 million in debt further un underscore this instability we must prevent a similar business from occupying that location and perpetrating the cycle of potential abuse and financial strain these types of business is often confine animals in environments that restrict natural behaviors causing both psychological and physical har harm therefore I propose an ordinance that prohibits the establishment of any interactive Animal Facility in Woodbridge that allows direct human interaction such as petting zoos or aquariums with touch pool the housing of Exotic Aquatic or farm animals for public entertainment purposes including species like pigs goats chickens New Jersey has a history of progressive Animal Welfare legislation exemplified by nosy law which bans the use of elephants in traveling circus this demonstrates the State state's commitment to protecting animals and provides a precedent for regulating the use of animal to entertainment adopting this ordinance will protect animals from exploitation and neglect mitigate public health and safety risks protect Woodbridge economy by preventing financially unstable businesses like sequest from procuring debts to public and private entities um they do also owe boo a local um exterminator right here in Woodbridge a good deal of money as well um which obviously has not been working because they do have roach is all over still but enhance Woodbridge reputation as a forward thinking Community dedicated to Humane treatment of animals public health and financial responsibility I urge the council to adopt this ordinance to Pro prohibit interactive animal facilities within Woodbridge um and if I can bring of give to Mr Mitch thank you thank you are there any other comments this evening hi I'm Jessica mayor M um I really didn't write anything down um I just wanted to bring up uh when I was here I 22nd and I went back and watched the video today so that I was sure that what I was being told was correct I have copies of the um Health the certificates that were signed and it was my understanding as being told here that the only thing you were responsible for was food and service and that was paid $900 $900 and this expired December 31st but you also signed off and paid they paid wor permit for farm animals so that also expires on the 31st I'm here to ask you to not sign the permits not allow the health department to sign the permits for the farm animals this company is in a lot of trouble two more locations to suppose so there's five left in the United States this one being one of them they just file bankruptcy on December 2nd they owe them all $381 million in back R it is crashing we are still protesting every other weekend we're pulling out every way we can get Public's attention to this and I just wish that you will support us I know you've said that your hands are tied but the signature is on here for the permit for the farm animals we have sanctuaries that are willing to take these animals and give them a proper life not in a b without sunlight and air and if you've ever been in there the amount of noise and scream so I just I'm asking to please consider not signing again and allowing them to continue to be there really want see thank you thank you for your comments any other comments from the public this evening Gooding uh two question I believe mayor uh wage bu bu compan replace the pipes in woodage I believe that's just wage whatever they are and some of us have a govern pipes and some people let pipes come to a buildings and I believe they said that they will be paid by the federal government it's not paid by them the government's going to pay for them a lot of people are confused be afraid to answer them I believe because they think that burden is going to be on them it's not clear enough if they're going to pay for it like they get money from fed government do their part are the people that go to the buildings who be responsible to go into the buildings I understood that that one point they would said that uh they do up to the water MERS and the rest is L responsibility to my knowledge one of my buildings under that situation and they said they would do it up today part and the language SP with the second part people that told through this situation they said that they're kind of afraid how much money going be involved put the start to the build mandatory or just if you want to do it not they got 10 years my second part question would be last last time you did approve $1.95 million to repair the roads now you can see they're thinking all over they're making those roads you want to call M mess they all over my question is are they going to pay foray with all the roads the government like get money from the government I understand or we going to have to pay fix the stores and pay them the way supposed to pay so that's my question and uh to make long story short uh that's that's a question don't of course May Christmas happen here so may any answ to inform the public not to be afraid maybe to sign into it because they want to entry from the people the own those buildings to reply to it and some people afraid to do it because they afraid if they say yes they don't know how big of the bill they're going to have to pay for it so clarify thank you okay mayor uh Mr dark normally I understand what you're saying I missed the whole first part of your first question I heard something about heaters and who's paying for for it I can you repeat the first part of that question and my question the second part would be they going to lift up the roads to put the spes in who's going to rip up the roads who's going to pay to replace the payment on the road fix who's ripping up the roads what compan doing the water company pays to replace them they can replace all the roads yes just the if they open it they have to put it back in the condition was in fix question is the rest here there there I the water company fixes anything that they uh interfere with they put it back better condition than it was before they did the work thank you mayor thank you thank you are there any other comments from the public this evening yes please hearing no other comments can I again a motion that the public comment portion be closed motion second thank you than all in favor I I oppos eyes have we now go into our agenda um my agenda is in order uh but as this is the uh final meeting of the year um as a council president I wanted to uh thank the council the administration and all of our um visitors uh that have come throughout the year um to express uh any concerns that they may have have had um throughout the township I will say that we listen to everyone uh and we try to answer in the best way that we can um I think that um uh it's been a a very very relatively smooth year but I think a lot of it has to do with the people that sit here at the deis and the people that are here in administration so I want to thank you all and um I wish whoever is uh going to be sitting in this chair next year good luck and um I'm going to move on to council vice president Spiller thank you council president anen uh I just like to thank you for a successful year as council president um whomever it might be if it should be me this council president next year I'll take your tutelage um you've taught me a couple things to bring with me next year as opposed to my first term as council president uh I want to thank you uh this whole Council thanks you um whatever might have been presented before this body um you addressed it um people always say we only talk or meet TW twice a month we had meetings we've had conferences about many of different issues that came before us so um again I want to thank you for an outstanding year um with that said um it's our last meeting I wish all our residents all my fellow Council mates my friends our families uh Merry Christmas Happy New Year happy Hanukkah happy K Quanza um as the speaker had said this years ago I I learned from this whatever you celebrate celebrate it well um everybody be safe and happy and thank you and here's to 2025 thank you and I will wish everyone happy holidays as well councilman F yes just brief uh over at the community center I know sometimes it's a challenge during the uh winter break uh for parents that are working that have children there's a lot of activities going on at the community center and over at the club uh so make sure you check out their website for activities during the day uh joining in to uh thank council president uh Kyle Anderson for this year it's been a great year appreciate your hard work and also congratulations I mean we're public servants but we are parents so congratul ation to you and Denise and the twins on an outstanding football season and postseason recognition at the state level for both the boys is incredible uh so congratulations and congratulations to the whole uh Woodbridge bar team it was a great season it was a very nice run and also I join with everyone Merry Christmas happy holidays whatever you celebrate en jooy thank you very much Council pres thank you councilman small thank you council president uh councilman Bower out today um we ask that you keep his uh thoughts in prayers for his family uh his wife's ing's mother is illen hospital so uh let's think think about them uh council president thank you for your leadership and guidance we uh we I think we had a great year um and you led the led the way so I appreciate the your your hard work I want to uh thank all our First Responders um not only for the job they do but this month was really special with all the toy collections and tree lightings and hospital visits um our police fire and and EMS really went above and beyond this month what they normally do on a day-to-day basis so thank you uh Merry Christmas Happy Panza happy Hanukkah happy New Year and God bless America thank you thank you councilwoman Deus thank you council president I like to Echo the sentiments and say thank you for your leadership this year um we had had a great year um my agenda is in order I just want to thank um our Woodbridge Police Department along with PBA 38 because this past Saturday they hosted um Shop with a cop and they took some of our children from our Township um on a shopping spree so they uh brighten some family Spirits I also like to thank all of the firehouses I mean there's been a collection of people in our Township that have taken the rains and are taking care of those um residents that need a helping hand I think a lot of people are living difficult times you know you go grocery shopping $400 you don't bring anything home so I mean those of us that are blessed with jobs there are other people that are unemployed or people that are lower income and they they struggle a little bit so I just want to thank everyone in our Township that has helped any family in our Township I think at at this especially during the holiday season we always got to remember how blessed we are and give back and with that being said keep our First Responders our wage Police Department all of our firemen and women our First Responders EMTs in your prayers and um all of the service men and women that are um deployed and not able to spend time with their families just when we are together with our families we should count our blessings and always remember those that are not that's all that I have to say that thank you so much Council Mi thank you council president my agenda is also in order I want to thank you for your leadership this year like we we're happy we had a good year it's been a smooth year and we know it's all because of everybody here and administration and we do thank you for everything you did this year and I just kind of want to piggyback on everybody else with the donations this year they have been absolutely amazing we've gotten donations from every single Firehouse in W Township we are taking care of 187 children um this coming weekend 81 families and uh there's a need this year and the community really stepped up and uh donated what they could whether it was money or food or toys um I think everybody's going to have a gift so um it really due to the kindness of this community it's been amazing and I just want to wish everybody a happy merry Christmas happy Hanukkah happy Quanza happy everything so that's all I have thank you so much yes I forgot to thank Amazon Amazon just donated and brought over to AA I think about 100 coach for um wow needy kids in our community so on behalf of our Council and administration I want to thank Aman for making that donation we really appreciate it thank you Council M yeah thank you Council Pat my my agenda is also in order uh i' like to thank you for your great leadership uh like also thanks all of our Council colleagues all those uh directors for making 2024 such a great and very successful year uh also I would like to wish you all happy holidays uh Merry Christmas happy healthy and a very prospering New Year to you all that's all for tonight thank you thank you much Council call thank you council president um thank you so much for your uh leadership this year uh it's great to give me some tips considering I'm still the new kid on the Block here I would say and I appreciate our conversations and the guidance that you've given me through the year um I want to also thank uh all the residents who came out for the first tree lighting in seaw waren it was a great event thank you so much it was a wonderful and I hope that we can do that every year going forward um also the toy donations were amazing this year we had a gigantic box at Not Just Bagels and it was filled over three times so uh thank you so much to the residents who are very willing to help and support all the families who are not as fortunate as everyone else can be um and I also want to thank uh all of the uh all of the residents who are just out there helping everyone in every way they can and thank you to our uh military for serving who can't be with their families and hopefully the ones that can be home this year so Merry Christmas happy Hanukkah happy Quanza and have a blessed new year thank thank you thank you so much Mr Mitch thank you Mr President my agenda is in order thank you Wilson for your leadership This Year look forward to uh work leadership next year happy holid together thank you Mr simala thank you council president I want to congratulate you on a very successful year not only for you but for your twin boys it would very exciting to to see them succeed uh on behalf of the mayor uh and the administration we want to wish the residents uh the the our employees and their families a very uh Happy season merry Christmas happy Hanukkah happy Quanza whatever you celebrate celebrate it well uh and we look forward to uh working with you next year um as we go into uh next season we have a tax and Sewer overpayment we have a 100% disabled veteran thank you council president thank you very much director Hub thank counc I thank you director Dart thank you council president nothing this evening thank you thank you director Brook thank you council president want there a proposal for inspection to the Green Street down goad thank you thank you very much okay motion to adjourn motion second second second okay