One second. >> I'd like to call the regular township committee meeting of January 20th, 2025 to order. Everybody come in. If you're wondering why we're sitting here, we're going to wait until
everybody comes in. Okay, we already open the meeting at Please rise to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> Please remain standing for our invocation. >> Let's pray together. Father, I pause to Thanks again for the men and women who give their time to oversee the happenings of our town. We
pray that you would bless their meeting, that you would help them have all the information they need to make good decisions about our town. Father, I think about two different groups of people on this cold night. We think about our elderly and those who are at
risk in this really cold, cold weather. Protect them, keep them safe as they travel. Protect their protect the first responders they are called to respond. Also think on the other side of these young men what they
have accomplished this fall. Thank you for the memories. I thank you for all the parents and the coaches who poured into them not only this year but in all the years that have led up to this accomplishment. May they be bound together by this. May they remember it well. May it cause them to serve the
generation that comes after them. Father, we thank you for the beginning of this our hundth year as a town that you might watch over our our gathering and our town. >> Amen. >> Thank you.
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor. The notice requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act have been satisfied with respect to this meeting. Specifically, the time, date, and location were included in the annual notice of meetings adopted by the township committee, posted in memorial town hall by the municipal clerk's office, and sent to at least two newspapers, including the official
newspaper of the township, the Ridgewood News and the Record. Additionally, to the extent known, the agenda for this meeting and whether formal action will be taken was posted in Memorial Town Hall by the municipal clerk's office and sent to at least two newspapers, including the official newspaper of the township, the Rididgewood News and the Bergen Record, in accordance with the
Open Public Meetings Act. Have a roll call. >> Miss Bogdansky absent. Mr. Bonstra >> here. >> Mr. Milkon >> here. >> Mr. Shepard >> here >> and Mayor Lane >> here. >> Thank you.
>> Next please. >> That is confirmed. Mr. Mayor, >> this time I'd like to ask for a motion to open public public. All those in >> favor. We have a 20 minute public comment
period. 5 minutes per speaker public comment on any governmental issue that a member of the public feels may be concern of the township of white. If you have a comment, please step forward to the microphone. If you wish to make a comse
are here. We're going to read the proclamation that we have prepared. We have some nice reading everybody. Whereas the 2025 Ramapo High School boys varsity soccer team is the 2025 New
Jersey group three state champion as a result of six consecutive victories in the NJA boys soccer state playoffs including a two nothing North three sectional championship win over
high school a state semifinal win over high and the convincing 51 state final win over Middletown South High School on November 22nd, 2025 at Franklin High School.
And whereas the 2025 Ramo High School boys varsity soccer team is the 2025 Bergen County soccer tournament champion by virtue of their four wins in the tournament including a dominating 5 nothing performance over 10:00 high
school on October 25th and their two nothing victory over Catholing the team's only loss in the first game of the season. This marks the fifth straight year and the 18th time the Ramo
High School's boys soccer team has captured the Bergen County championship, the most ever by any county school. Whereas the 2025 ground high school boys soccer team is also the 2025 Big North
Freedom Division with a 7 and0 record and This exceptional exceptional exceptional team completed their season with an overall record of 21 wins and one loss and was honored by being named the North
Jersey boys soccer team of the year by the Bergen record. And whereas this outstanding team's hard work and dedication combined with it and determination resulted in 15 shutout wins and only nine goals against them in
the entire season. The lowest number of goals allowed in the state this season. This remarkable achievement led to being ranked number five in the state of New Jersey by the Star Ledger, the Bergen County Coaches Association boys soccer team of the year. the number one ranked
team in North Jersey by record and finally the number three ranked team in New Jersey and the 25th ranked team in the entire country by Max Preps and whereas Brown High School boys soccer team benefited greatly from the
dedication commitment and leadership of head coach Evan Bound and assistant assistant coaches Frank Roio Brian Larski Joe and Freddy. And whereas special thanks
is extended to the parents, coaches, and all of the Brown students and educators and the administration for their never ending commitment and support. And whereas a special group of student athletes, Brody Benner, Anthony Bon,
Julian, Luke, Conor Dearco, Nick, Evan, Dylan, James Morris, Jaden Einstein, Jordan, Alex Johnson, Dylan,
Ryan Kramer, Julian Laura, Justin Madigan, Eli Martinez, Kaden O'Connell, Owen Okonnell, Willio, Jacob Preiosi, Jackson
So, George Zaka and Zack Zar Zar achieved these extraordinary accomplishments and the honors with their commitment to unselfish team play, tireless work ethics, outstanding soccer skills, and
their overall commitment to the sport of soccer. Now therefore be proclaimed by the township committee of the township of white county state of New Jersey that the 2025 round high school boys varsity team coach Evan Bound Garden and his
staff are hereby extended congratulations on behalf of our entire community for the significant success they have achieved and our thanks for serving as a positive role model for the youth athletes of our community and for
illustrating the reward. which can be achieved through commitment, diligence and diligence in pursuing excellence. Witness by my hand and seal this 20th day of January myself Jane
and Jim. Congratulations I got it right here. Anybody's name? >> Hey Congratulations again. >> That's unbelievable. Where's the Good job.
I think we We can't see you. Have you seen yourself? I got one more photographer. Don't move, guys. All right, we're meeting. Good job guys. Good job.
Congrats. Congrats. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> I can hear Nancy. >> It's not the mics. next year. So, we know you're back to work. That's why you got to
Thank you. You want to give me a name now? A I D A >> M Capital H A L E 19 I don't know. >> Yeah. I don't know what's going on, but they're saying they can't hear anything. >> They're still saying now we can't hear,
>> I guess. So, We're doing it this new way. >> Unless somebody wasn't here. Give it one more minute. >> The what? >> It's just on the YouTube. Well, I'm hoping the tech is going to help me tomorrow.
>> Okay, let's continue the meeting. We'd like to get the review of the business agenda, Matt. >> Good afternoon or good evening. >> So, you'll notice the consent agenda is in a little bit different of a format. Um, we've separated the bill lists out
from being a um a numbered resolution uh to being similar to our close session resolutions where we number them consecutively. So, our bill resolutions will now be 26-B1. Next meeting will be B2 and so on. So, it's easy to find the bill resolutions uh when we come to uh
giving them to the auditor at the end of the year. Uh our minutes are in the consent agenda. If there's anybody that needs to needs to abstain, just to say when we go to the vote, just abstain on the uh on whatever item it is. Uh if we need to pull it off for a separate vote, we can absolutely do that as well. There
are several resolutions. Uh some year-end resolutions, 2650 have to deal with a a widow of a veteran allowance from 21 through 25. Uh 51 cancel some taxes that were taxexempt in 2026.
Um we have a redemption of a tax sale authorize our agreement with police app. Police app is the name of police app is the company we use uh from time to time when we have a police hiring. Um that is the application we use. We also use it
for uh we used it for our hirings. Uh they handle all the background investigate uh the all the gathering information for our uh gathering of those information of of those applications. 54 appointing capital benefits. You remember them from our last from our meetings last year when we were dealing
with health benefits as our broker of record for health prescription and dental insurance. We have a 2025 budget transfer. Another tax sale certificate. So the first one was for Virginia A. This one's for Whiteoff A. Um we have two resolutions
to uh their housekeeping resolutions to clean up some Zabriski House trustee appointments. Uh, as you know, those resolutions have to be filed with the with the surrogate court. Uh, and in going through, we just uh realize that we have to clean up some terms. And resolution 26-04A
will be the first amendment to our appointment resolution from our reorganization meeting. Um, and that has to deal with the appointment of the alternate municipal prosecutor. Same firm as our prosecutor, but it's the person who handles the cases uh when the
prosecutor is unable to attend. There are four ordinances for introduction. The first is uh which we've been talking about for months, the lacrosse wall. We did receive funding for the full cash match or a pledge for funding for the full cash match uh at
from the Bergen County Open Space uh park improvement grant uh from both the uh lacrosse group and from the Y. uh this ordinance authorizes uh the acceptance of that grant and the insertion of it into the capital uh and and authorizes the improvement
authorization and author and also takes that uh that I'm going to call it uh donated money and puts it into the appropriation. Um 2060 is a resolution it's called a special emergency appropriation. This is
different from our emergency appropriations that we've done in the past such as um let's go with this. There are three types of emergency appropriations. The first one is the one we do every year at at reorganization. It's the temporary
emergency resolution and that's nicknamed the temporary budget. The second one is a regular emergency. That's the one like we did last year when we needed to fund the purchase of the guns for the police department. Um and that an emergency that we we
authorized this year and it is a deferred charge to be funded completely in the subsequent year's budget. This is a special emergency appropriation. There's like only six or seven actually there might be eight, I'm sorry, uh authorized uses for authorized reasons
for a special emergency and one of them is tax maps and one of them is revaluation. So you will see both of them this year. Um but tax maps is the first one. So, this is a $160,000 temporary e sorry, special emergency appropriation for the preparation of an
approved tax map, which we will then um approve a contract for at our next meeting. And the special emergency appropriations in this case are funded in subsequent years budgets over five years. So, it's not something we have to fund fully next year. We fund it
starting next year at 1/5. 2061. Um, authorizes >> Hold on one second. Just got to read. I think there might be a duplicate. Disregard. We're going to pull off 2059 off the
agenda. >> 2059 is the old resol is the first one I gave you. >> Yes. >> And 2061 >> 2061 replaces it. >> Correct. So 20 59 will not be introduced. 2062 amend is a ordinance amendment to our
zoning code uh with regard to the property at uh the abundant life church on Lafayette Avenue. Uh this is uh the first of many resolutions that you will see with regard to our affordable housing settlements. U this will reszone
that property to match the zoning that we approved for the Franklin Avenue subdivision down on the Walwick border for single family small single family homes. There are several motions that'll be read into the record at the next meeting. There are no ordinances for public hearing as we've only had our
reorganization meeting so far. And we will have uh number 15 which is resolution 26C1 to enter a close session discussion for uh pending and anticipated litigation uh and personnel. On to items going on in town hall or
around town. The transition to our new payroll vendor occurred on January 1st. There were some minor glitches that occurred January 14th, but everybody did get paid. Uh those will be corrected at the January 28th pay. our special enrollment period granted by the New Jersey State Health Benefits
Commission uh and the P divisions of pensions and benefits uh to move everybody to the Horizon HD high plan opened this week. The township moved all the employees uh so that they didn't have to go in and do so. And before open enrollment closes, we'll go in again and make sure that nothing changes. Uh
because the employees do have the ability to go ahead and change it themselves. We want to make sure that nothing gets mistakenly changed. So, we'll check that again on Monday before our uh open enrollment period closes. Beginning on or about February 13th and continuing for approximately four weeks, Nelson Tree Service under contract with
ONR will be performing tree trimming and removal work along Franklin A, Main Street, Whiteoff A, Godwin Aav, Cresenav, Wayouth Road, Edgewood Road, Harding Road, Brookside Avenue, Harding Hart Tongue Drive, Monroe Avenue, Van
Halton Avenue, Shadyside Drive, and the associated side streets. Uh residents will be contacted via letter by ONR apprised of their program. We'll get some uh notice in our e-news and ONR supervisor will be contacting the police department directly to coordinate traffic control.
The finance department has prepared the 2025 annual debt statement and has been submitted to the state and posted on the township website. Our shred day for the spring will be uh April 17th. It will be done at a Friday and it will be at community park. The 40th district legislators will be
holding their mobile office hours here in the ladderback room from 4 to 6 on Wednesday the 28th. Uh Ridgewood water contractors are continuing to install raw water manes now on Caldwell Drive uh from end to end. So, from Woff to Cedar Hill daily
from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm, there are police detours set up and anybody that is parked uh and needs to needs to move their car during the day is asked to move their cars uh to one of the side streets so they can get out. The post office recently changed their postmark procedures. The post office will no
longer postmark items the day they are retrieved from mailboxes. They will be postmarking them the day they are processed through their system. So, it could be a day or two delayed. This however does not change the grace period for the receipt of tax and sore payments which has always been that they must be
received by the township in our offices by the close of business on the 10th day after the quarterly uh due date. This does leave some questions with receipt to vote by mail ballots which have to be received and postmarked by a certain day. Uh but I'm sure that the
legislature is on top of that. Uh the new reduced 25 mph speed limit signs have been installed on Mountain Avenue. Reminder to license your pets, that period uh without a late uh fine closes on >> March 31st.
>> March 31st. And just some quick 2025 facts and figures from our clerk's office. They issued 5,56 death certificate copies, 189 copies of marriage licenses. They held appointments and issued 50 marriage
license applications. Registered and followed up to keep insurance current for 46 registered tree contractors. Issued 415 tree permits, 1,5152 dog licenses, 62 sorry 67 cat licenses.
Accepted and obtained necessary document uh departmental approvals for special events. took calls and processed online forms and arranged bulk pickup for 4,200 bulk requests. Took calls and processed online forms and arranged uh arranged nearly 1,000
metal recycling requests and issued 134 parking passes for the parking ride at Cornerstone Church. That's all I got. All right, we'll start with the reports of committee.
>> I'll start with the board of education. They had two meetings last me as president. January 12th meeting retirement
runs everything. of our most precious assets at all the schools kindergarten registration went out for everybody with kids and the big
budget is a 37% board of health on January 8th and president vice president from county wellbeing clinic and some education sessions at the
library including living with animals by water parks and recreation board January 12th reelected to the chairmanship. reviewed a bunch of different condesc
discuss some cages over here by the wall, excuse me, and discuss his pres. They welcome three new members, Tony, Jennifer, and Susie. Uh, review the charter for the new
attendees. They talked about the 14 homes in town this year. Mr. Mayor, just real quick expand on one of Jim's items. We received notice from the Northwest
Bergen Regional Health Commission that they are no longer going to provide well baby services to non-member municipalities. So we are a non-member municipality as we uh do not contract with them for health officer services. We contracted we contract with the county of Bergen. So, uh, we've reached
out, Nancy, I had Nancy reach out to all the municipal clerks and the closest one around us for well baby services, uh, is going to be Midber and Regional Health Commission. They are accepting non-member municipalities. So, we do have a shared service agreement which
will be presented to the February board of health meeting. Once they consent to it, then we'll authorize a resolution here uh, executing a contract with Midber and Regional Health for well baby services. does not >> county does not provide that service.
>> All right. >> Thank you, mayor. Um on the 14th, the planning board met and we had a we considered a couple of applications. Um we had a completeness hearing for the Taste of Cuban restaurant proposed to open that is in
the old red barn between the White Cleaners and Miller's Pharmacy. Um it was deemed complete and will the next meeting for public hearing. Uh we had a public hearing on a new dentist office um which will be constructed um
on the site of the old Michael Banimal Clinic, Dr. Klop's office. They're going to demolish the old house there and build a quite attractive um dental office. Um the um
oh the uh fence application on a corner of George and Ellis, which is the subject of a lot of discussion and some contention, has been um the applicant has retained the council and um the board and the applicant applicants
council agreed to postpone further consideration until the March meeting. And the board approved the Prince offense application for a fence in front yard number two on a lot that runs from
um um Saxonia, I'm sorry, Venshake to uh Hurley A. It's a a lot that runs the front is on Hurley and the back of the um lot is on the Venshake and it's a unique situation in the board after some
changes approved the fence application. I attended the ambulance corps installation dinner along with the mayor on the 10th at the brick house. It was a very nice event, very well attended. Captain and Allison Dansen was reelected captain again of the ambulance corps
uh ch attended a chamber of commerce meeting this morning along with Pete and uh and Roger and uh the police department had a strong showing there made uh a presentation. There were six police that the chief plus five other officers and uh very informative um
presentation made by the police department. They had the new emergency service unit um outside and it looked like after the meeting ended they had some people interested in looking at it which was great. Um and Roger also um as
mayor made some welcoming remarks and uh made a few reports. Library board meets tomorrow night. Uh thus far um well I should say just back up the um the road department had another weekend winter
storm this past weekend. Um that's the second one weekend extended weekend winter storm we've had on a holiday weekend. Um and uh the storms we've had so far this year have been long in
duration and short on accumulation. Now what this does is it consumes a lot of salt. Consumes a lot of a lot of salt and uh we I don't want to say depleted our salt supply, but it's the the barn should be have more salt in it at this
point in the winter. So, Joe has ordered another 600 tons of salt. I don't know what the salt supply uh is that comes through the county, I think, still. Matt, am I right on that? >> But uh I know we're we're running. So, we do get Yeah, we do get some salt from the county for some county roads, but
>> um >> Yes, we we've dep we depleted the 2025 salt budget. >> Yeah. >> And uh we had to hit the reserve. >> Yeah. >> Um I think that's it. Mayor Flo Fies is the
weekend of um February 6th, 7th, and 8th. I will be um participating if anyone wants to come and throw the mayors at me. That's the time to do it. The mayor, I think, will be joining me. Do I have that right, Roger? This is what I hear. Okay. So, um if anyone else
would like to join us, they they look for elected officials to join them. So, just give me a call. Um I think that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. I also attended the ambulance. Sorry.
It was a great amount to go over police, but I just want to mention I did attend one of their ice their ice rescue trainings last week and it was great to see and some of the posting on social
came up a great 530 great police department at PSU and it's very important because we do have a bunch of links in town and also they
will be able to assist neighboring town that don't have the same equipment. I also attended the chamber meeting this morning. The mayor gave his speech police department and tomorrow we have
street. >> A lot of the things have been mentioned already. I was at the for dinner. I had the pleasure of swearing off with regard to the police department again this morning was well represented
six officers there and there was very much activity after looking at our emergency services. It's a fabulous vehicle. Additionally, just in the big picture, you know, we're still in the early
stages of talking about the renovation of the police departments and going through the minutia that has to happen to us that I attended my first board meeting
and I would situation. The only thing I would add to yours is that it's a pediatric dentist for anybody that may look up. I asked I asked the young lady and
she said it goes up to 18 years old. So, the library board, I know that the mayor by law, I was told sits on that. But I'm going to have Rudy continue that because my wife is on the board. I don't want any hint of any problem with that
because everything's good. Let's see. I attended the Ramo Indian Hills of their new board members. Tominsky was sworn in. He was elected as vice president of the board
and love was also sworn in president. So we congratulate them and appears to be a very good cohesive working. Rudy and I also attended Eagle Scout of Honor
Church. And the interesting fact there and we're going to highlight this with a proclamation at some point during the year is that was it 269 >> 89 I'm sorry they are also 100 years old. So, it's
amazing that this boyatches our turn it over. >> Yes, mayor. Uh part of our settlement with the program and fair share. Uh we need to get draft ordinances and our amended housing plan to fair share to
review with comments. It was supposed to happen by the 15th of this month, but you can imagine our planner uh and our both our fair share planner and our regular planner working on it, but they're pretty inundated. So, they were able to get a little more time from fair share to get those over to them. We want
to review them as well, obviously, before we have to introduce adopt and so forth. The only negative is all this has to happen by March 15. So, even though they got a little more time to get them over to fair share for review and comment, that doesn't push back our date. So, we've got some work to do over
our February and early March to get those things uh reviewed, introduced, and adopted with the planning board. So, over the next two months, we're going to be pretty busy looking at some ordinances and also amending our housing
plan. Um, and I'll probably be able to give a little more update on our litigation in a couple weeks. Um, some things have happened there, but I don't feel uh that I have enough information to do that tonight. So, That's it. >> I knew I'd forget something tonight. I'm
not going to forget it. I have to read this fire department report in May's absence. U and this is this these are amazing numbers. So fire department finished the year 2025 with 727
fire calls totaling 23,421 manunteers 23,000. Unbelievable. Currently the fire department has responded to 32 calls for service in January totaling 1200 man
hours. Fire department has completed an ice rescue drill on pond last week. Members continue to train every Monday night at various locations throughout the township and that was in addition to what commanding
also fire department. Uh the highest priority this year is going to be to recruit new members. Uh if anybody wants to join the volunteer fire department, they're encouraged to uh please stop by at any firehouse on Monday night from 7 p.m. on and uh and
talk to some of the folks there and we'll get you signed up. And as a reminder, please with all the snow that we have, please make sure that you remove snow from the fire hydrants if you have one in front of your house. I'm reminded of
At this point, time is of the essence and please don't delay from clearing those fire hydrants so that God forbid there's an incident that the fire department can get out. Nancy, would you please read the consent? >> Absolutely.
>> All matters listed below are considered by the township committee to be routine in nature. There'll be no separate discussion of these items. If any discussion is desired by the township committee, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. Minutes for approval. December 16, 2025,
the sign die meeting. January 1, 2026, our annual reorganization meeting minutes. Bill list 26-B1, the first uh authorization of vouchers and payment of bills resolution for the year. And these resolutions,
widow of veteran allowance for years 2021 through 2025 for block 202 law 73.01 1 C60002 600B Sugarbush Court 2026 cancel taxes as per NJSA 54
4-3.6 tax exempt redemption of tax sale certificate number 25 0000009 for block 477 lot 10.01 367 Virginia Avenue. Authorize an
agreement with Police App. Appointing Capital Benefits LLC as the township's health prescription and dental insurance broker of record. Budget transfer redemption of tax sales certificate number 25008, block 350, lot 4.01 for 307 Woff Avenue.
Reappoint of Zabriski House Trustee Brian Brunch. and reappointment of Zabriski House Trustee Mark Santomorro and 2604A as Matt mentioned earlier is our 2026 appointments amended
ordinances for introduction number 260 an ordinance of the township of Wyoff County of Bergen State of New Jersey authorizing a special emergency appropriation pursuant to NJSA4A 4-53 for the preparation of an approved
tax map tax map prepation ation in an amount not to exceed $160,000 to be provided for over a period of 5 years and providing that such appropriation shall be financed from surplus funds available without the issuance of special emergency notes. Number 2061, an
ordinance authorizing the Pulisfield lacrosse wall with turf surface project and appropriating funds therefore in the capital fund, including a grant receivable for a reimbursement grant awarded under the Bergen County Open Space 2024 municipal park improvement program and providing for the local
match from the Pulisfield Construction Donation Trust Fund and if necessary the municipal open space trust fund. Number 2062, an ordinance amending the land use ordinance of the township of Wyoff to amend chapter 186 zoning to add one new
inclusionary zone consistent with and designed to effectuate the township's adopted 2025 fourth round housing element and fair share plan. We have two motions for approval. The first is to approve a request for special event by Woff Tavern to hold a summer festival in
their parking lot on Sunday, July 12th, 2026. This event will feature food trucks, live music, and a beer garden tent. Approve requests for special event by Hopech Christian Services to hold a beef steak fundraiser at St. Nicholas Church
on Thursday, March 19th, 2026 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Temporary signage will be utilized on the date of the event only to direct guests at the entrance of the church parking lot. A one-day liquor license application is in progress. >> Nancy, >> yes. With regard to the application for
the motion for Whiteoff Tavern, >> yes. >> Um where are they going to park? They are going to have to have we've had many discussions with um with EJ and with Chief Murphy and the traffic safety officers. They are going to be parking
across the street in his parking lot for by the realtor's office and they're going to have to hire a police officer to cross people from one side of the street to the other at the street next to the Thai restaurant. >> Okay. Police department signed off on
that. >> That's what they agreed to. Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> There will be no parking in the parking lot. It'll be completely closed off with barriers. >> None of the other businesses will be operating.
>> All right. Like to have a motion to approve the consent agenda. We're going to have a roll call on this. >> Mr. Bonstra. >> Yes. >> Mr. Milkon. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shepard. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Lane. >> Hi.
>> Thank you. With an affirmative vote, the motion is approved. >> And ladies, we're going to have a motion to go into close session to discuss some legal matters and then when we come back out, we're just going to have a motion to close. So, you know,
unless you want to just see our faces again, I would advise this. You might want to you might want to go. So, may I have a motion? Resolution 26-C1 to enter into session discussions. >> Second
>> and just for that >> and just for the record there will be no action taken by the governing body as Roger >> after the meeting after the close session >> except to adjourn. >> Mr. Bonra >> yes >> Mr. Melion yes >> Mr. Shepard yes >> and Mayor Lane.
>> With an affirmative vote the motion is approved.