Jan 07, 2025 Township Council

READY? YEP.

[00:00:06]

[I. CONVENING OF MEETING]

I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REORGANIZATION AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL FOR JANUARY 7TH, 2025.

NOTICE

[II. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]

POSTING, FILING, AND MAILING HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE THIRD DAY OF JANUARY, 2025.

PLEASE RISE

[III. FLAG SALUTE]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE SUPER ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR PERSISTENCE ON ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[IV. ROLL CALL]

MS. SIMONS HERE.

MR. RESTOCK.

HERE.

MR. CIZIK.

HERE.

MS. MILK HERE.

[V. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF MAYOR FOR 2025 (Term to expire 12/31/25)]

WE HAVE A NOMINATION.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE ERIC RESTOCK FOR MAYOR.

SECOND.

MR. CIZIK.

AYE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATION? CLOSE NOMINATION? NO.

OH, CLOSE NOMINATION.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S OKAY.

MR. CIZIK.

AYE.

MS. MILK? AYE.

MR. SIMONS? AYE.

MR. RESTOCK? AYE.

AT THIS TIME

[VI. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2025 (Term to expire 12/31/25)]

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE FOR DEPUTY MAYOR MICHAEL CIZIK FOR 2025.

I SECOND THAT.

OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE.

MS. MILK? AYE.

MR. RESTOCK? AYE.

MS. SIMONS? AYE.

MR. CIZIK? AYE.

OKAY.

UM, AT THIS

[VII. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE (Mayor)]

OKAY.

WE ALL DO DOWN? YES, THAT'S FINE.

SO, LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE RIGHT HAND, I STATE YOUR NAME.

I AFFIRM.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, UH, SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE CONSTITUTION.

AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AND THAT I BEAR TRUE FAITH AND I BEAR TRUE FAITH.

AND ALLEGIANCE.

AND ALLEGIANCE.

TO THE SAME.

TO THE SAME.

AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE.

AND IN THIS STATE.

UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE.

SO HELP ME GOD.

UH, GOD.

I DO FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

I DO FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL IMPARTIALLY.

THAT I WILL IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES.

PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PROTECTION MAYOR, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

[VIII. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE (Deputy Mayor)]

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

OF THE UNITED STATES AND CONSTITUTION AND CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND I'LL BEAR TRUTH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.

AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED.

AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE.

AND IN THE STATE.

UNDER THE AUTHORITY, UNDER THE AUTHORITY THE PEOPLE.

SO GOD, SO BE GOD.

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL IMPARTIAL, THAT I'LL IMPARTIALLY, JUSTLY, JUSTLY AND, AND JUST AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES.

PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF, OF THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY MAYOR OF EVENT PROTECTION, DEPUTY MAYOR OF EVENT,

[00:05:01]

SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE A MOMENT TO, UH, OKAY.

ROLL

[IX. 2025 ROLL CALL]

2025.

MS. MILK.

HERE.

MS. SIMONS.

HERE.

MR. WATSON? HERE.

DEPUTY MAYOR CIZIK.

HERE.

MAYOR WEBSTOCK HERE.

ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, THANK YOU.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE HONOR OF THE ROLE OF MAYOR, AND IT'S CERTAINLY A HUMBLING POSITION TO BE IN.

AND BEFORE I SHARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IN 2025, I MUST FIRST SHARE COUNCIL'S DEPRECIATION OF MAYOR WATSON, UH, WHO HAS BEEN THE MAYOR FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.

SO WITHOUT QUESTION, MAYOR, MAYOR WATSON IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT MEDFORD IS WHERE IT IS TO TODAY BECAUSE OF HIS DEDICATION INTO TERMINATION.

14 YEARS AGO, HE WAS APPOINTED TO FILL A VACANT SEAT, RAN FOR ELECTION THE FOLLOWING TERM, AND FOR REELECTION TWICE.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IN THE PAST 14 YEARS, MEDFORD HAS CHANGED, GROWN AND DEVELOPED INTO A SOUTH JERSEY TOWN OF A CLAIM FROM HIS IMPACT ON THE MAIN STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT TO HEALTHY GROWTH MINDSET OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HIS PART IN GROWING A MORE ACCESSIBLE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT VIA OUR NEW TOWN HALL.

MORE THAN ANYONE CURRENTLY ON COUNCIL AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE OF HIM.

THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SPOKEN OF IN THE ANNALS OF THE HISTORY OF THIS GREAT TOWN.

WITHOUT QUESTION, MAYOR WATSON'S NAME WILL BE PART OF OUR HISTORY AS IT IS HANDED DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, LOOKING AHEAD AT THIS COMING YEAR, CERTAINLY OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS THAT OF MAYOR AND THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE US AND MEDFORD IS THE TOWN THAT FALLS UNDER WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE FAULKNER ACT.

AS SUCH, OUR COUNCIL OVERSEES POLICY AND THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER WHO SERVES AS OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL COUNCIL, APPOINTS THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR EACH YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR WE ARE IN AGREEMENT AND MOVING IN UNITY AS WE ARE RESTARTING.

THE PROCESS OF ROTATING THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR ROLES AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, IS A COLLECTIVE DECISION OF COUNCIL THAT WE SHOULD RETURN TO THE ROTATION OF MAYOR, SO THAT ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL CAN SHARE THE EXPANDING ROLES OF GOVERNING OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING THE FIRST IN THIS PROCESS.

AND ALONG WITH COUNCIL, WE WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO CONTINUE OUR PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE HERE IN MEDFORD.

AND AS COUNCIL, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON MEDFORD.

AND IN 2025 WE LOOK FORWARD TO STEPPING WITH GREATER INTENTION TOWARD THE RESIDENTS.

AS WE FACE CHALLENGES TOGETHER.

IT IS OUR DESIRE TO PURSUE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT IN OUR MANY BUSINESS DISTRICTS, INCLUDING TAKING ON THE CHALLENGING CHALLENGES OF MARRYING A SU A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MODEL ON MAIN STREET WITH THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CALL THE SAME AREA HOME.

WE'RE TAKING A BALANCED APPROACH TO SPUR DEVELOPMENT WHILE PRESERVING THE CHARM OF FARMS AND COMMUNITY HERE.

AS WE FOCUS ON THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MEDFORD, WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THE MYAA LOCAL FUNDING IS CONTINUALLY BEING CUT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

HOWEVER, WE SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AND MIA'S PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, EXTRACURRICULARS AND PROTECTION OF OUR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN AS THE RESIDENTS HAVE REALIZED BUDGETING IS A CHALLENGE IN THIS INFLATIONARY ECONOMY.

AND WE'RE STILL REELING FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS AS WE RECEIVE LESS AND LESS MONEY FROM TRENTON.

AS A STANDING EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR'S WASTE SOLID WASTE CONTRACT FOR TRASH NEARLY DOUBLED FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO ALONG WITH OUR NEW TOWNSHIP MANAGER, DANIEL HARLE, WE WILL WORK TENTATIVELY AS WE COLLECTIVELY PURSUE OUR GOAL TO KEEP MEDFORD AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, SHOP, AND PLAY.

AND SO PERSONALLY I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNSEL AGAIN FOR THIS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN ME AS WE COMMENCE THIS NEW ROTATION.

AND WE WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT THANK THE TERRIFIC STAFF HERE IN MEDFORD.

THEY NEVER RECEIVE MUCH CREDIT AS THEY QUIETLY WORK WITH EXCELLENCE.

SO FINALLY, WE THANK THE POLICE, FIRE AND EMS FOR KEEPING A SAFE DAY AND NIGHT.

MEDFORD IS WHERE IT IS TODAY BECAUSE OF OUR RESIDENTS, STAFF AND BUSINESSES.

AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR TERRIFIC NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT,

[X. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

I'LL LET YOU, UH, BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME,

[00:10:01]

SIR WOLF 25, BEAR HEAD ROAD.

MIKE AND BETHANY, THE LAST TIME I SAW THE TWO OF YOU WAS AT THE MEETING THAT YOU HELD FOR THE TAUNTING LAKE PINE TRAFFIC ISSUES AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRESENCE AND I LEARNED THAT AFTER THE FACT THAT YOU ACCUSED ME OF BEING THERE TO SPY ON YOUR MEETING.

IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? YOU, LIKE YOU'RE ASKING ME IF I SAID YOU WERE SPYING AT THE MEETING, DID YOU MAKE THAT ACCUSATION? I ASKED WHY YOU WERE THERE.

DID YOU MAKE THAT ACCUSATION? I ASKED WHY YOU WERE THERE AND WHEN YOU CONFRONTED MAYOR WATSON ABOUT THAT, AND HE SAID NO, THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

DID YOU TELL HIM THAT HE WAS LYING? WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND I TOOK HIS ANSWER.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

SOMEONE WHO ACCUSES SOMEONE OF DOING SOMETHING AS DESPICABLE AS THAT IS LIKELY TO DO IT THEMSELVES AND SOMEONE WHO ACCUSES SOMEONE ELSE OF LYING IS LIKELY TO DO IT THEMSELVES.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS A HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF THIS COUNSEL.

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU HAVE NO INTEGRITY WHATSOEVER.

AND ONCE YOU LOSE YOUR INTEGRITY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET IT BACK.

I'M VERY DISPLEASED AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE WAY YOU'VE GONE ABOUT IT.

AND FOR YOU, ERIC, I ALWAYS THOUGHT AS A PERSON OF RELIGION HAD SOME HIGHER ETHICS AND STANDARDS FOR YOURSELF.

BUT IN FACT, YOU'RE BEST DESCRIBED, AND I'M NOT A BIBLICAL SCHOLAR IN GENESIS THREE THAT TALKS ABOUT YOU.

I I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MEDFORD, BUT MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN TWO OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

AND GOING FORWARD, AS LONG AS ANY ONE OF THE THREE OF YOU ARE ON THIS COUNCIL, YOU WILL NOT HAVE OUR SUPPORT IN, IN ANY WAY SHAPE.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE, SIR? I THINK I THINK, OH, I'M SORRY.

SORRY, MR. SHE HAD SIGN UP.

FIRST YOU GO BACK TO YOUR SEAT.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE NEED TO DECORUM HERE.

WE NEED TO DECORUM HERE.

CERTAINLY WRONG ABOUT, WE NEED TO, I'VE NEVER MET YOU ROBERTO.

I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING MR. MR. CARNE THERE, MR. CARNE.

ALRIGHT, I WILL ADDRESS YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

BUT THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

NOBODY HAS DIVIDED THIS COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS THIS GUY CHUCK WATSON HAS.

HE'S PINNED SO MANY PEOPLE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

IT'S INSANE.

AND MR. WOLF COMES UP HERE TO TALK AND IS ASKING YOU THESE QUESTIONS.

AT LEAST YOU ANSWERED 'EM BACK.

WE NEVER GOT ONE REPLY FROM YOU AND THE THINGS THAT HE JUST SAID.

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE TALKING TO ASHLEY, CHUCK, NOT MIKE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT AROUND YOU, THE A ALBERTO WS, THE OTHER GUY, PAULY, I'VE NEVER MET THEM.

I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO THEM.

OUR FARM WAS GETTING HAMMERED BECAUSE OF YOU.

OKAY? WE STOOD UP AND WE SPOKE UP AGAINST OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE GOT, WE GOT PEOPLE SAYING AWFUL STUFF ABOUT, WELL, IF YOUR MOM DIES, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA SELL THE FARM.

AND IT'S JUST BEEN ENDLESS, ENDLESS.

I I BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

YOU HAVEN'T HAD ONE NORMAL PERSON COME UP HERE AND SUPPORT YOU, OKAY? OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT'S NOT TIED INTO YOU IN SOME KIND OF PERSONAL FRIENDLY WAY.

UM, AND WHATEVER HE JUST SAID, HE, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE HIS SUPPORT, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT.

YOU THREE, YOU REALLY DO 100%.

AND I HOPE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, CHUCK AND DONNA, YOU GUYS DON'T RUN BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE MAKING CHANGES AND, AND MEDFORD IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FINALLY.

BUT YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ON THIS SIDE, TO NOT HAVE THE CONNECTIONS TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND MAKE THIS STOP.

WE COULDN'T DO THAT.

IT JUST KEPT GOING AND GOING AND GOING.

FINALLY THOUGH, IT'S CALLED ELECTIONS.

OKAY? RIGHT? THIS IS WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

AND YOU'RE EITHER GONNA GET VOTED IN OR VOTED OUT.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY, AT LEAST THE LAST YEAR YOU'RE UP HERE, YOU'RE JUST A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE NOT A LEADER.

YOU'RE TITLE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN NEAR YOU.

THAT'S ALL GUYS.

WE SUPPORT YOU.

WE REALLY THINK WE LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH, UH, THE TOWN HALL AND TRYING TO ACTUALLY TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE FRIENDS ON CHERRY STREET, BRANCH STREET, OLD MARTON PIKE.

YOU NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

I LIKE EVERYTHING ON MAIN STREET, THE BUSINESSES.

I HAD A CHEESE STATE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE NAME OF THE PLACE IS.

IT WENT UP SO FAST.

THINGS ARE GETTING DUMPED UP THERE.

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THAT BACK FROM YOU GUYS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND YOU JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARE AT ALL.

NONE OF THIS STUFF WOULD'VE HAPPENED IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? YOU GUYS ARE SHOOTING DOWN THE ZONING BOARD, SHOOTING DOWN THE, UH, RED CROSS THING WHERE THEY DONATE STUFF, RIGHT? AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

I'M LIKE, WELL, THAT'S NEAR YOU.

YOU DON'T WANT THE WORD TRAFFIC.

YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY DOING STUFF

[00:15:01]

BUT OVER HERE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, IT'S WHO CARES.

YOU CAN LAUGH, MAN.

BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, YOU'RE THE MOST HATED PERSON IN MEDFORD.

ALMOST.

MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT BEHIND IT.

I KNOW YOU'RE LAUGHING.

OKAY? FOR REAL.

YOU GUYS SHOULD BE REALLY EMBARRASSED AND YOU SHOULD SUPPORT AND GET ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND AT LEAST END YOUR TERMS UP HERE IN A GOOD WAY.

OKAY? THE BEST THING YOU GUYS CAN DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY IS LET NEW FRESH PEOPLE COME IN WITH PERSPECTIVE.

THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE BOX.

THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND THEY HAVE WAYS OF FIXING THESE PROBLEMS. AND OR AT LEAST TO ENGAGE 'EM WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT'S THAT SK SAYING? S THANK YOU REV STOCK.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE CHIEF, YOU'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE A GENTLEMAN WHO WANTS TO CURSE AND CALL A WOMAN A SKK.

HIS MOTHER MUST TO TAUGHT HIM THAT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY? BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS A NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN MEDFORD, ALBERTA WOLF.

OKAY? NOW YOU KNOW WHO I AM.

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED.

VERY.

THIS WASN'T DONE RIGHT? THIS WAS NOT DONE RIGHT? NOT AT ALL.

AND I DIDN'T COME THERE TO SPY ON YOU, OKAY? I CAME THERE BECAUSE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MY NEIGHBORS.

WE HAVE A SPEEDING PROBLEM.

AND SINCE YOU ARE MR. TRAFFIC COP ALONG WITH MEDFORD, MIKE, YOU CAN FIX OUR SPEEDING PROBLEM NOW.

THAT'S WHY I WAS THERE.

NOT FOR HIM.

NOT FOR HIM.

I'M NOT A SNEAK.

I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IT OUT OF MY MOUTH.

OKAY? AND TALKING ABOUT THE FAULKNER ACT, I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH.

I WOULD, I AM LOOKING INTO SOMEONE TO HELP TURN THE FAULKNER ACT OUT AND BRING, WE HAVE TO GET A PETITION.

WE HAVE TO GET SIGNED AND MAKE IT A MAYOR ELECTED TOWN WHERE WE GET TO PICK THE MAYOR.

THE PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU UP THERE GET TO GO.

I DIDN'T 'CAUSE I DIDN'T VOTE FOR EITHER ONE OF YOU BECAUSE I HAD A GUT FEELING WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

OKAY? AND YOU CAME FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF HERE.

AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET AT AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET? WHAT ARE WE GONNA GET NOW? A NEW TREE ORDINANCE.

IS THAT WHAT DID IT THE TREE ORDINANCE.

BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT A PERSON WHO VIOLATES AN ORDINANCE.

IS THAT WHAT DID IT? IS THAT WHY CHUCK AND DONNA TOOK ALL THIS ABUSE OVER A TREE ORDINANCE? IS THAT WHAT IT'S, YOU GUYS WERE HANDED A COMMUNITY FLUSH WITH CASH.

I'M GOING TO STAND HERE AND SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO DESTROY IT.

AND YOU BETTER RECUSE YOURSELF FROM NYAA ANYTIME A VOTE COMES UP HERE.

OKAY? THAT'S WHAT YOU BETTER DO.

AND MY HUSBAND AND I, WE'RE REPUBLICANS, WE'RE GOING INDEPENDENT.

WE WANNA HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE DESTROYED THIS TOWN.

THIS IS TERRIBLE.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT.

YOU WOULD HAVE NOTHING IF IT WEREN'T FOR MR. WATSON AND HIS TEAM.

AND YOU COULD SMIRK ALL YOU WANT.

I WAS NOT A SMIRK, MA'AM.

OKAY? AND YOU COULD SMIRK ALL YOU WANT, BUT I THINK IT'S A DISGRACE.

YOU NEVER SHOW UP TO ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS BUSY WITH YOUR KIDS.

YOU NEVER SHOW UP TO ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS AT CHURCH.

TIME.

THE TIME.

HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE? I GOT TWO MINUTES.

CHICK.

HOW MUCH TIME IS THAT? DON'T SPEAK ABOUT MY CHILDREN.

YOU GOT IT? NO, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE.

YAAI SAID THE YA FOR CHILDREN, ALBERTO.

I SAID THE MI MEANT TO SAY THE MYAA.

I'M SORRY YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S CHILDREN.

WHATEVER, SORRY.

WHATEVER, WHATEVER.

BUT YOU'RE STILL NOT SHOWING UP.

YOU'RE NEVER ANYWHERE.

OKAY? NEVER SEE YOUR FACE.

IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS.

JUST SO YOU KNOW.

I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH NOTHING, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME I DO NOTHING.

NOTHING.

OKAY.

OKAY.

YOU CAN CALL ME A LIAR AGAIN IF YOU WANT.

THANK YOU.

AND PEOPLE THAT BLAME OTHER PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

HELLO PAUL.

SHE, EXCUSE ME.

GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

UM, I DON'T LIVE IN TOWN, BUT I DID FOR MANY YEARS.

EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.

GOING WAY, WAY BACK TO 1966.

UM, FROM THEN UNTIL NOW, I'VE SEEN THE GOOD OF MEDFORD.

I'VE SEEN THE BAD OF MEDFORD.

I'VE SEEN THE UGLY OF MEDFORD.

IN 1917, I DID A, UH, SHORT VIDEO OF MAIN STREET.

MAIN STREET AT THE TIME HAD 17 OPEN BUSINESSES VACANT RECENTLY I SPOKE WITH THE BUSINESS OWNER AND THIS PERSON WAS TELLING ME THERE'S A WAITING LIST NOW

[00:20:01]

MANY YEARS AGO, CHUCK COUNSEL MADE SOME DIFFICULT DECISION, MADE SOME MAJOR CUTS THAT FRANKLY FORGIVE MY CHOICE WORDS.

I, FOR ONE, WAS P****D OFF 'CAUSE IT ACTUALLY AFFECTED A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY AND I HOUNDED HIM AND HOED HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT I THINK COUNSEL DID AT THAT TIME WAS WRONG.

HOWEVER, OVER THE YEARS, THAT MAN HAS PROVEN ME WRONG.

AND I'VE TOLD HIM PRIVATELY, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT PUBLICLY, I APOLOGIZE.

YOU WERE RIGHT FOR WHAT YOU AND COUNSEL DID.

I WISH EVERYBODY HERE THE BEST OF LUCK.

BUT I HOPE YOU DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE INFLUENCED BY OUTSIDE SOURCES.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO.

TRUST ME.

I KNOW.

DON'T LET IT HAPPEN.

AND I WISH YOU GUYS AND GALS THE BEST OF LUCK.

I HAVE SOME FOR CHUCK.

IF YOU ALLOW CHUCK TO COME DOWN PLEASE.

AND IT'S JUST A GESTURE FROM ME.

I'M SURE MANY OF THE PEOPLE, UM, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR CHUCK.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS WITH THAT? I'M SORRY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS WITH THAT? NO, I'M OKAY RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

WAS THERE MAYBE AFTER WE, OKAY.

MY NAME IS KRISTEN SINCLAIR, 89 CHRISTOPHER MEL ROAD, METRO, NEW JERSEY.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I'M HERE INDIVIDUALLY AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN VOTER.

MY COMMENTS TONIGHT ARE ONLY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, UM, REALLY DISGUSTED AT THE BEHAVIOR OF ADULTS WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO OUR GOVERNMENT AND PUT EVERYTHING EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES ONTO ALL OF YOU.

AND IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM, THAT WAS DISGUSTING.

THAT WAS TRULY DISGUSTING.

I WOULD NEVER EXPECT SOMEBODY TO COME TO MY BOARD MEETING AND TALK ABOUT MY FAMILY AND MY MOTIVATION.

AND I THINK THAT'S COMPLETE DISRESPECT FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE ALL BELIEVE ABOUT MAYOR WATSON.

I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO LOOK HIM IN THE FACE AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.

TO SAY THAT I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE TIME AND THAT I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU SERVING.

IT'S HUMILIATING THAT OUR LAWYERS ARE NOT TELLING EVERYONE, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU BEHAVE.

OUR LAWYERS NEED TO BE TELLING YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAY YOU DON'T GET TO BE BERATED THIS WAY JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE UNHAPPY WITH TODAY'S RESULT.

I'VE BEEN COMING FOR THREE YEARS TO MEETINGS FOR THE SCHOOL BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN'S BODIES ARE NOT SAFE IN THE BUILDINGS UNLESS WE HAVE OFFICERS.

I'VE BEEN ASKING THE SCHOOLS AND THE TOWNS TO FIND THE MONEY IF C PAYS HALF FOR THE COPS AT THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN IN THIS FOR.

SO EVERYONE THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT'S MY MOTIVATION.

I'M NOT HERE TO GET ANYONE.

I'VE BEEN ASKING EACH ONE OF YOU TO LISTEN AND MANY OF YOU HAVE.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND I THANK YOU.

AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAS DONE THE JOB OF ROTATING LEADERSHIP SO THAT THERE ISN'T THIS FEELING THAT THERE'S SOME VESTED INTEREST OR SOME SPECIAL PRIVILEGE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS HAPPENING.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY EMBARRASSING THAT THOSE ACCUSATIONS WERE MADE BY OTHER PEOPLE.

AND I JUST THANK YOU ALL AND WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR YEAR THIS YEAR.

AND I HOPE THAT OUR LAWYERS MAKE SURE TO COUNSEL YOU WELL SO THAT YOU DON'T PUT YOURSELVES IN A BAD POSITION OF ENGAGING IN THE PUBLIC IN THIS TYPE OF FORUM.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE PUT YOUR MIC UP.

THERE WAS A PRESS TO RAISE THE VOLUME OF THE MICROPHONE.

IS THAT POSSIBLE? UH, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK RIGHT IN RIGHT INTO WHAT? I KNOW YOU HAVE TO.

WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE YOU GUYS DO.

YOU GOTTA SPEAK RIGHT INTO IT.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING, PHILLIP JUSTICE.

100 JACKSON ROAD.

UM, I'M ACTUALLY HERE ABOUT A, A DIFFERENT MATTER THAN WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED MOST OF THIS EVENING.

UM, SO LEMME BEGIN.

UM, MY NAME'S PHILLIP JUSTICE.

MY WIFE TARA AND I, UH, HAVE AN OWNERSHIP STAKE IN 100 JACKSON ROAD IN MEDFORD.

100 JACKSON ROAD IS A 31 ACRE PLOT OF LARGELY UNDEVELOPED LAND LOCATED IN MEDFORD'S GROWTH DISTRICT.

UH, WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY IN JANUARY OF 2024 WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING MEDFORD OUR PER UH, PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

MOVING FORWARD, OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN HERE.

I'M AN AIR FORCE VETERAN WHO'S LOOKING TO TRANSITION MY SKILLSET INTO EMERGING CANNABIS MARKET, SPECIFICALLY THAT OF INDOOR CULTIVATION.

[00:25:01]

AND FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW THE ORDINANCE PROHIBITS, UH, COMMERCIAL CANNABIS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.

UH, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT I CAN BE A, A VALUE ADD TO THIS COMMUNITY, UH, BY STARTING A LOCAL BUSINESS.

AND HOPEFULLY, UH, AS SOME HAVE MENTIONED THIS EVENING, I CAN PROVIDE A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO, UH, SOME OF THE REVENUE ISSUES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST.

I, I'M NOT SURE, UM, THE REASON I'M HERE.

UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO WORK WITH THE TOWNSHIP TO AMEND TOWNSHIP CODE CHAPTER 54, CANNABIS CREATED THROUGH ORDINANCE 2021 DASH NINE, WHICH WAS WRITTEN INTO LAW ON JUNE 1ST, 2021.

UM, PREPARED IN FRONT OF YOU IS A FACT SHEET WILL THAT, THAT WILL SUPPORT THIS DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.

PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE TWO.

UH, THERE YOU'LL FIND ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020, PUBLIC REFERENDUM PASSED AT 67% OF THE VOTERS APPROVING PUBLIC QUESTION, ONE SIGNALING STRONG SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT OF THE LEGALIZATION OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS IN BURLINGTON COUNTY.

THOSE RESULTS WERE, YES, 179,000, NO, 72,000.

SPECIFICALLY GOING DOWN TO THE DATA FOR MEDFORD, WHICH IS LISTED ON PAGE 12, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE WAS 20,000 REGISTERED VOTERS, UH, IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.

16,000 OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY VOTING IN THAT REFERENDUM.

10,000 VOTED YES, ABOUT 5,000, VOTED NO.

AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR ROUGHLY 64%, 64.4% OF THE VOTE, WHICH TO ME SIGNALS A PRETTY STRONG INTEREST IN THE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS MARKET.

UM, AT THAT TIME.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WONDER IF OUR RESIDENTS BELIEVE IN COMMERCIAL CANNABIS, THEY'VE ALREADY VOTED ON IT.

AND THAT SUPPORTED THE STATEWIDE, UM, MANDATE TO LEGALIZE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS AND DECRIMINALIZE UP TO SIX OUNCES OF CANNABIS.

MOVING ON IN AUGUST OF 2021.

UM, MUNICIPALITIES WERE GIVEN, GIVEN A 180, UH, MUNICIPALITIES WERE GIVEN 180 DAYS AFTER THE LAW WAS SIGNED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ALLOW OR BAN COMMERCIAL CANNABIS.

IF A MUNICIPALITY DID NOT ACT, IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY OPTED IN.

MUNICIPALITIES THAT OPTED OUT CAN REVISE THEIR DECISION AT ANY TIME TO ALLOW CANNABIS BASED ON THIS INFORMATION AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

AND WITH THAT AUGUST, 2021 OPT IN OUT DEADLINE APPROACHING QUICKLY, I DO BELIEVE THAT METRICS, MEDFORD TOWNSHIP'S LEGAL COUNSEL HAVE, UH, AS WELL AS THE RANKING MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL CAME TO THE CORRECT, UH, CORRECT CONCLUSION TO PROHIBIT COMMERCIAL CANNABIS AND MEDFORD TOWNSHIP BASED ON THE LACK OF LEGISLATION AVAILABLE.

AGAIN, AT THAT TIME.

HOWEVER, IT'S BEEN THREE AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THIS ORDINANCE WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED.

LEGISLATION LICENSING AND TAXATION OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ARE AT THIS POINT, VERY WELL DEFINED.

MOVING ON OF THE 32 TOWNSHIP IN TOWNSHIPS, IN JUST BURLINGTON COUNTY ALONE, 14 OF THEM, NEARLY HALF HAVE LEGALIZED SOME FORM OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS.

OF THOSE 14 TOWNSHIPS, THREE OF THOSE ARE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO MEDFORD.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE TO WONDER IF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS IS RIGHT FOR MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.

WE CAN TURN TO OUR LEFT AND WE CAN TURN TO OUR RIGHT AND SIMPLY LOOK AT THE DATA PRODUCED BY OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNSHIPS TO SEE WHAT HAS WORKED WELL OR WHAT HAS WORKED POORLY.

MOVING ON, I WANT TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE LICENSE TYPES THAT WE COULDN'T ENACT TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL CANNABIS, THAT WHICH HAS CULTIVATION, GROWING CANNABIS MANUFACTURING, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, WHOLESALING PRODUCTS, OR RETAIL PRODUCTS.

MOVING ON TO THE TAXATION PORTION, AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE IT GETS JUICY.

FROM A DOLLARS AND CENTS PERSPECTIVE, MUNICIPALITIES CAN IMPOSE A LOCAL TRANSFER TAX OF UP TO 2% OF THE RECEIPTS OF CULTIVATORS MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS, AND 1% OF THAT OF WHOLESALERS, MUNICIPALITIES CAN ALSO EN IMPOSE A USER TAX FOR ANY BUSINESS WHO CAN HOLD THOSE CONCURRENT LICENSES AND WANTS TO VERTICALLY INTEGRATE THAT INTO THEIR BUSINESS STRUCTURE.

NOW, I WANNA MAKE AN ANALOGY FOR YOU TO MAKE A COMPARISON TO ALCOHOL.

UM, WHEN WE'VE REFERENCED THE 2024 MEDFORD BUDGET, ALCOHOL LICENSURE CAME IN AT ABOUT $25,000.

THOSE FOR THE REVENUES WE COLLECTED.

KEEP THAT IN MIND.

UH, WITH, UH, WHAT CANNABIS ALLOWS, UH, WHAT CANNABIS ALLOWS THAT ALCOHOL DOES NOT IS, LET'S SAY I OWN A BREWERY AND I WANT TO GROW HOPS FOR MY BEER.

YOU CAN TAX THAT AT 2%.

LET'S SAY I TOOK THOSE HOPS AND MAKE A BEER, I MANUFACTURE, YOU CAN TAX THAT AT 2%.

LET'S SAY I TAKE THAT BEER AND I WHOLESALE IT TO A BEER STORE, A TOWNSHIP OVER, YOU CAN TAX THAT AT 1%.

LET'S SAY I THEN TAKE THAT BEER AND I SELL IT TO A PATIENT WHO'S GONNA DRINK IT IN MY BREWERY? WELL, YOU CAN TAX THAT SALE AGAIN AT 2% AND YOU CAN CONCURRENTLY DO THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE, WHICH IS A GIGANTIC REVENUE GENERATION FOR THIS TOWNSHIP.

THAT DATA, I I, I PUT IN OPRA REQUEST TO LUMBERTON AS WELL AS EVESHAM.

AND THAT DATA IS REPRESENTED THROUGH PAGES 13 THROUGH 16.

UM, AND, AND YOU CAN REVIEW THAT DATE, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REPRESENT IT TO YOU, BUT IT REPRESENTS GIGANTIC FUNDS.

THESE TOWNSHIPS WERE ABLE TO COLLECT JUST BY ALLOWING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO OPERATE WITHIN THOSE MUNICIPALITIES.

IN LUMBERTON.

I BELIEVE THE NUMBERS WERE, UH, IN ONE PARTICULAR CASE, $1,300 SPECIFICALLY COLLECTED THROUGH A TRANSFER TAX JUST IN NOVEMBER, PRORATED FOR 12 MONTHS.

THAT'S $15,000 FROM JUST THAT ONE BUSINESS.

AND EVESHAM, THROUGH ALL OF THEIR DISPENSARIES, THEY COLLECTED ABOUT $138,000 IN 2024.

THOSE ARE REVENUES THAT WE COULD BE COLLECTING, UM, THAT IS OTHERWISE GOING TO THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY SURROUNDINGS.

UM, SO ADDITIONALLY, END OF NOTE, BY PROHIBITING CANNABIS, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY SENDING WHAT COULD OTHERWISE BE OUR TAX DOLLARS USED LOCALLY TO THOSE OTHER TOWNSHIPS.

IT'S ALREADY LEGAL TO SMOKE CANNABIS, TO BUY CANNABIS, TO USE CANNABIS.

AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO IS JUST GONNA GO TO ONE OF THOSE OTHER TOWNSHIPS THAT HAS, UH, A RETAIL LOCATION.

BUY IT, SMOKE IT, USE

[00:30:01]

SO I WANNA MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT HERE.

AND I KNOW I'M PROBABLY AT TIME, EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE I'VE SHUFFLED THROUGH PAPERWORK.

YOU'RE A LITTLE OVER, BUT YOU'RE OKAY.

YOU CAN FINISH UP.

YEAH, MY APOLOGIES EVERYBODY.

UM, I WANNA FURTHER STRESS THE POINT THAT ORDINANCE 2021 DASH NINE WAS NOT SIGNED INTO LAW BECAUSE WE DETERMINED THAT COMMERCIAL CANNABIS WAS BAD FOR EFFORT.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IT WAS BASED ON A LACK OF LEGISLATION.

WE DIDN'T DO THIS BASED ON SOME KIND OF MORAL, UH, OR RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

WE DIDN'T DO THIS BASED ON SOME KIND OF NOTION ABOUT CRIME.

WE JUST DID THIS AGAIN BASED ON LACK OF LEGISLATION.

AND I'M SIMPLY ASKING THE COUNSEL TO LOOK AT THE DATA THAT I'VE PRESENTED TO YOU.

THEN WE COULD WORK TOGETHER TO COLLECT AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AGAIN BASED ON THAT DATA TO SEE CAN THIS ACTUALLY BENEFIT OUR LOCAL TOWNSHIP? YES OR NO? SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

VERY THOROUGH.

THANK YOU MAYOR WENDY, PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IS OVER.

I CAN BRIEFLY ADDRESS THE CANNABIS.

I JUST WANNA GIVE, MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THE BACKGROUND AND WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO GOING FORWARD.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ELSE, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, PETE MOODY, 22 MILL STREET.

YOU MAY REMEMBER ME FROM LAST MONTH.

IT'LL BE A LOT BRIEF FOR THIS TIME.

UM, TWO THINGS.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. HORAL.

HE DID, UM, EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO.

UM, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY RARE THAT SOMEBODY ASKS FOR THEIR PROPERTY TO BE CONDEMNED.

BUT I, UM, ACTUALLY WENT OVER TO, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION OFFICE AND RICH HAD ALREADY STOPPED BY THERE THAT MORNING.

AND PAPERWORK IS DONE.

NOW I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER BUREAUCRATIC PAPERWORK THAT I THOUGHT WAS GONNA HAVE TO DO FOR THIS INCORRECT ZONING THING THAT'S GOING ON.

UH, DANIEL, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT YOU WERE WORKING ON FIXING THAT INTERNALLY.

UM, THERE WAS SOMETHING MENTIONED ABOUT MULTIPLE MEETINGS.

IT HAS TO BE BROUGHT UP FOR ORDINANCE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WHAT, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? THERE IS AN ORDINANCE.

THERE'S AN ORDINANCE ON FOR TONIGHT.

OKAY.

FOR, FOR WHAT THEY CALL INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING.

OKAY.

IN NEW JERSEY, ANY ORDINANCE HAS TO HAVE A FIRST READING WHERE WE READ THE ORDINANCE BY TITLE.

IT'S THEN PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER.

IT'S THEN SCHEDULED FOR A SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE MEETING.

SO THIS WILL BE THE, THE ASSUMING THE COUNCIL ADOPTS THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT INTRODUCES IT, IT WILL BE ON JANUARY 22ND FOR PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION.

SO I COME BACK TO THAT AGAIN.

YOU CERTAINLY CAN.

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

FINE.

AND, AND, AND JUST SO JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, WE LIMIT, WE CORRECTED THE ZONING ON THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT WERE INCORRECTLY ZONED.

OKAY.

INCLUDING YOURS.

UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE DOES IS EVEN, YOU'LL HEAR ME EXPLAIN THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE ORDINANCE, BUT YES.

AND THEN I'LL BE, I HAVE TO ALSO SEND IT TO THE PLANNING BOARD.

THE COUNCIL HAS TO SEND IT TO THE PLANNING BOARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REVIEW IT.

BUT THAT'S IN BETWEEN, WELL, THAT'S THE ONES THAT ARE THE ROADBLOCK IN THE BEGINNING.

WELL, THAT'S OKAY.

BY LAW, I, WE HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE P BOARD TO MAKE SURE IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE PINELANDS COMMISSION 'CAUSE THEY HAVE OVERALL AUTHORITY ON ANY ZONING ORDINANCE IN OUR PART OF THE TOWN THAT'S IN THE PINE LAND.

SO IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BUREAUCRACY, BUT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

WE, I MEAN, THANKS TO DANIEL.

WE IT'S, IT'S GONE AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN GO.

AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.

YEP.

OKAY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, ARINA, CIZIK 69 TO ROAD.

UM, DAD, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOUR DEPUTY MAYOR, I LOVE YOU.

GOD'S ON YOUR SIDE.

YOU GOT THIS.

I LOVE YOU BABY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WOMAN? DEFENSE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR .

PRETTY COOL TITLE.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN OUT HERE? THIS IS MY BE THE BEGINNING OF MY EIGHTH YEAR.

EIGHTH YEAR? YEAH.

BUT, UH, NATE, YOU'D BE HAPPY.

NA NAME AND ADDRESS THOUGH, PLEASE.

IT.

UH, DAVID RNS NINE ATKINSON COURT.

THANK YOU.

I I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MISERABLE WE LOOK JOE, RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE SO SMILE LIKE THIS GUY HERE'S BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.

HE'S GONNA BE A MAYOR FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

YOU GUYS SHOULD ALL BE HAPPY FOR HIM.

LOVE THE NEW FACES.

GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

WINS OF CHANGE.

LOSERS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE? PUBLIC COMMENT? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

OPPOSED? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

[XI. RESOLUTIONS]

RESOLUTION 1 20 25.

APPROVAL OF THE 2025 TEMPORARY BUDGET

[00:35:01]

RESOLUTION 5 20 25 AUTHORIZING REFUNDS FOR DUPLICATE TAX OR UTILITY PAYMENTS OF OVERPAYMENTS RESOLUTION 6 20 25 ADOPTING THE YEAR 2025.

CASH MANAGEMENT PLAN OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.

RESOLUTION 7 20 25 AUTHORIZING TO REESTABLISH CUSTODIANS OF PETTY CASH FUNDS RESOLUTION 8 20 25 APPOINTING CONTACT PERSON FOR THE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY HELPLINE.

BURLINGTON COUNTY MUNICIPAL JOINT INSURANCE FUND RESOLUTION 9 20 25.

20.

MUNICIPAL JOINT INSURANCE FUND COMMISSIONER, ALTERNATE FUND COMMISSIONER CLAIMS COORDINATOR AND SAFETY COORDINATOR.

RESOLUTION 10 20 25 AUTHORIZING THE TAX COLLECTOR TO CO TO CANCEL 2024 AND 2025.

TAX AND SEWER WATER BALANCES, CREDITS AND OR DEBITS IN AMOUNTS OF LESS THAN $10.

RESOLUTION 11 20 25 AUTHORIZING INSTALLMENTS? NOT YET.

DUE FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS NOT TO BE PLACED IN TAX SALE RESOLUTION.

12 20 25 AUTHORIZING $25 FEE FOR MAILING OF TAX SALE NOTICES AND ELECTRIC ELECTRONIC TAX SALE.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE RESOLUTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION ON RESOLUTION SIX DASH 2025.

UM, ON ITEM FOUR OF THE RESOLUTION, IT TALKS ABOUT DIFFERENT BANKS THAT ARE DESIGNATED AND ONE OF THEM NO LONGER EXISTS.

IS IT, IS IT OKAY TO LEAVE IT ON HERE AND JUST NOT UTILIZE THEM OR SHOULD IT NOT BE ON HERE AS A DESIGNATED, IS IT NO LONGER THIS BECAUSE IT'S MERGED WITH ANOTHER BANK? WELL, IT'S REPUBLIC AND IT WAS BOUGHT OUT BY FULTON.

RIGHT.

SO WE PROBABLY SHOULD CORRECT IT.

WHOEVER THE CURRENT YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

LEAVE IT ON AND WE WE WILL CORRECT IT TO WHOEVER MURDERED WITH THEM.

IF IT'S FULTON, WE'LL MAKE IT FULTON INSTEAD OF REPUBLIC.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? I THANK YOU.

THE RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED

[XII. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]

ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS? ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NONE.

JANUARY 21ST, 2025 IS THE NEXT SCHEDULED TOWNSHIP MEETING IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.

AND AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE THE NEWLY SCHEDULED TIME OF SIX 30 MOVING FORWARD.

[XIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE HAVE DECEMBER 17TH, 2024.

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? NO.

ALRIGHT.

HEARING NONE.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I'M GONNA RECUSE MYSELF.

I WASN'T AT THAT MEETING.

OKAY, SO MOVED.

SECOND.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? THE MEETINGS ARE APPROVED.

WE HAVE NO DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR TODAY.

[XV. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

IT REALLY SHOULD BE ONLY ONE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

THE ORDER HAD TO, SO RIGHT.

IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING NEW, THEY'RE WELCOME.

ANY, ANY NEW COMMENTS FROM, FROM ANYONE OR ELSE WE, WE WILL MOVE ON.

ALRIGHT SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

MIKE 26 BEAR HEAD ROAD.

UM, JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT EXCESSIVE SPEEDING ON BEAR HEAD.

UH, I'VE LIVED THERE NOW SINCE 2013 AND I, I WALK MY BALL DOWN THAT ROAD.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT I'VE NOTICED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, IT JUST SEEMS TO BE INCREASING.

NOW I DON'T HAVE A, A RADAR GUN, BUT I GOT A FAIRLY GOOD EYE AND THE PEOPLE WILL COME DOWN, ESPECIALLY COMING DOWN MCKEN IN TOWARDS 5 32.

THEY'LL COME AROUND THAT TURN AND COME UP THAT LITTLE HILL AND THEY'RE FLYING.

I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT A COUPLE TIMES.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD HAVE COMPLAINED.

I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DEER IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS KILLED ON THE ROAD.

IF YOU'RE DOING A SPEED LIMIT, 12:00 PM AND I THINK MOST OF US AROUND HERE KNOWS A LOT OF DEER, BUT IF YOU'RE DOING A SPEED LIMIT, WHICH IS 30 ON THAT ROAD, NORMALLY YOU'RE GONNA STOP BECAUSE YOU'LL SEE THE DEER AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO STOP.

A LOT OF THESE ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE OF HIGH SPEEDING.

THE OTHER THING IS, UM, I NOTICED SCHOOL BUSES JUST FLYING DOWN THAT ROAD.

AND TO ME THAT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

WE DO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BUSES AND STUDENTS IN THE BUSES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME SMALL CHILDREN, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS GOES FROM HERE.

DO I NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR WHAT

[00:40:01]

SURE.

OKAY.

SO I'LL TALK TO THE CHIEF.

SO THE POLICE CHIEF IS HERE.

HE'S CERTAINLY NOTED, NOTED THESE ITEMS AND OKAY, HE'LL STEP INTO THAT SPACE.

SO IT'S ON RECORD.

YES.

UM, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE SIR? CHAD MUCK AND FUS 1 0 5 DOWN ROAD.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, AND I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT PROPOSED THE CANNABIS AS A THIRD GENERATION MEDFORD RESIDENT AND FARMER HERE.

UM, ONE OF THE LARGER LANDHOLDERS IN THE, IN THE, IN THE TOWNSHIP.

UM, I'D LIKE TO BACK HIM UP ON THAT, AT LEAST FROM A GROW SIDE OF THINGS THAT I THINK IS NECESSARY, WE REEVALUATE THAT SITUATION AND LOOK AT THE ABILITY FOR US FARMERS IN TOWN TO POTENTIALLY GROW CANNABIS, UM, AND LEVERAGE THAT HERE.

NOT NECESSARILY RETAIL AS STOREFRONTS.

I KNOW THAT WAS A CONCERN IN THE ORIGINAL SITUATION OF WHY THAT WAS PASSED ORIGINALLY, BUT AT LEAST FROM A GROW STANDPOINT, THE STATE HAS VERY STRICT REGULATIONS ON THAT FROM SECURITY AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

UM, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THAT ORDINANCE HAS PASSED INTERNALLY HERE.

SO AGAIN, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT IN SECOND, UH, THIS GENTLEMAN'S RECOMMENDATION.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

[XVI. MANAGER’S REPORT]

MR. HARPER.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE, UH, FOUR NEW VOLUNTEER MEMBERS FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.

TWO NEW FIREFIGHTER VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING BRIAN, MICHAEL CHISIK AND, UH, GABRIEL, STEVEN BOSCH, AS WELL AS TWO, UH, JUNIOR MEMBERS, ONE JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER ERIC BAIN MCDERMOTT AND ONE NEW JUNIOR EMS VOLUNTEER.

BRANDON PICCOLO.

SO WE ASK COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION FOR THEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE VOLUNTEERS AND DEPUTY MAYOR'S SON, BRIAN IS HERE, SO THANK YOU.

WE CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WELL DON AND WE, WE EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE STEPPING INTO THAT, THAT SPACE.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS? ALL RIGHT.