[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]
[00:00:03]
ALL RIGHT.I CALL THE ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD TOWN COUNCIL FOR MARCH 4TH, 2025.
NOTICE THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT BY POSTING A COPY OF THE AGENDA IN THE BULLETIN BOARD AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE, FILING A COPY OF THE AGENDA IN THE OFFICE OF THE TOWNSHIP CLERK AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, FORWARDING A COPY OF THE AGENDA TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES, AND THE CENTRAL RECORD FORWARDING A WRITTEN NOTICE TO EACH PERSON WHO HAS REQUESTED COPIES OF THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE.
ALL OF THE ABOVE POSTING, FILING, AND MAILING HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE 28TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025.
[ II. FLAG SALUTE]
FOR THE WHITE MOVEMENT.I PLEDGE ALL TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[ III. ROLL CALL]
ROLL CALL PLEASE, MS. MILL.MR. WAS HERE, DEPUTY MAYOR CIZIK.
[ IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]
REGARDING SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.TONIGHT WE HAVE ONE SPECIAL PRESENTATION, MR. HENRY FROM HARDENBERG INSURANCE TO GIVE US A SAFETY UPDATE.
BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR DOESN'T, THE PURPOSES OF ME BEING HERE IS AS A MEMBER OF THE GF IT REQUIRED SAFETY AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.
WE DEVELOPED A TOPIC, DIDN'T SHARE WITH YOUR SAFETY COMMITTEE, UH, THIS YEAR, AND KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THE, UH, WINTER COLD.
BUT HEAT INJURY AND STRESS PREVENTION IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY AS WE GET INTO IT.
SO, EACH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG ALL WEATHER RELATED PHENOMENON IN THE US IT HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD.
UH, EXCESSIVE HEAT CAN CAUSE A NUMBER,
SO BOTTOM LINE IS WORKERS ARE AT RISK WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE IN EXCESSIVE HEAT.
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER BACK TO THE LAST SUMMER, WE HAD A REALLY, REALLY ROUGH SUMMER.
SO OSHA, THE OSHA ACT OF 1970 SIMPLY STATES THAT AS AN EMPLOYER, UH, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES PROOF AND HAZARDS.
SINCE 2021, OSHA HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A HEAT INJURY UNTIL THIS PREVENTION STANDARD.
IN OSHA TERMS, A STANDARD IS A LAW.
SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION NOW BECAUSE IT'S COMING, UH, IT'S EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED BEFORE THE SUMMER, AND EVEN WITHOUT THAT STANDARD IN PLACE, OSHA INSPECTORS HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A GENERAL DUTY CLAUSE, WHICH BASICALLY IS A FREEDOM TO CITE YOU FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY FIND STATE.
UM, AND KEEP IN MIND, I'M SURE THAT YOUR SUPERVISORS ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'M GONNA TALK YOU ANYWAY, WHEN YOU DO HAVE EXCESS HEAT.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY IS TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF WORKING IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, ASSESSING THAT SITUATION, AND CONTROLLING A WORKPLACE TO KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES SAFE.
YOU DO THAT TWO WAYS ADMINISTRATIVELY AND SUPERVISORS ALSO.
SO IT WOULD WORK COLLECTIVELY.
YOU CAN CONSIDER A MODIFIED WORK SCHEDULE, ROTATE JOB ASSIGNMENTS, SELF-PACING AND EXTRA BREAKS.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU ARE MOST LIKELY DOING ALREADY, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE REQUIRED BY LAW.
SUPERVISOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES, SCHEDULE MOST STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES BEFORE OR AFTER HOT PART OF THE DAY, TYPICALLY ON A HOT DAY.
INSTEAD OF WORK STARTING AT EIGHT, THEY'LL START AT SIX, GET DONE AT TWO INSTEAD OF FOUR.
YOU WANNA MONITOR YOUR BREAK TIME TO ENSURE THEY'RE ADEQUATE UNDER THE CONDITIONS AND MONITOR YOUR EMPLOYEES FOR SIGNS OF ANY STRESS.
ALSO, PERIODICALLY REVIEW YOUR POLICY, AND I'LL TOUCH ON THAT POLICY VERY SHORTLY AS YOUR TRAINING IS HAPPENING AND MAKE SURE IT'S DOCUMENTED, CONSIDERING ALTERING STARTING TIMES, WHICH I JUST TOUCHED ON.
AND YOU WANT TO FIND A REPUTABLE LOCAL WEATHER, WEATHER STATION THAT YOU DOWN ON.
GONNA GET IT RIGHT, DUNNO HOW THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT LOTS OF TIME THEY DO GET IT RIGHT.
SO EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA ALSO HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITIES ATTEND, PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING, FOLLOW HEAT THREAT PREVENTION MEASURES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PARENTS, TEAMMATES, A FOLLOW PROGRAM.
I'LL SHARE AN EXAMPLE IF YOU HAD ANOTHER G ANOTHER COUNTY, UH, FELLOW WAS A GREAT EMPLOYEE, LONG TIME EMPLOYEE WORKING OUT EXCESSIVE HEAT.
ONE OF THE FELLOW WORKERS LOOKED AT HIM AND DIDN'T THINK HE LOOKED RIGHT, BROUGHT THE, THE DETENTION TO THE SUPERVISOR.
THEY SAID, HEY, CHARLIE, GO SIT DOWN.
YOU WANT TO, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING GOOD, CHARLIE, GREAT WORKER AND ASSISTED, NO, I'M GONNA KEEP WORKING.
UH, AS IT TURNED OUT, FORTUNATELY, HE HAD A, HE HAD A MILD HEART ATTACK.
HAD HE CONTINUED TO WORK IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, UH, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE.
SO THAT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.
AND ANY TRAINING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE G AT NO COST FOR BEING
[00:05:01]
A MEMBER.SO YOU WANNA SCHEDULE THAT TRAINING, MAKE SURE IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE STRESS HEAT POLICY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AND DELIVER THAT TRAINING.
THERE'S, UH, EMPLOYEES HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DRINKABLE WATER.
LOTS OF TIMES THEY'VE BRING THEIR OWN, BUT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO THAT POLICY TO PROVIDE WATER TO ALL EMPLOYEES AND STATING THAT TWO GALLONS PER EMPLOYEE WILL BE THE REQUIREMENT.
POLLING MECHANISMS CAN ALWAYS HELP IF YOU GOTTA TAKE THOSE BREAKS THAT ARE REQUIRED.
JUST A FEW THINGS HERE THAT I'VE SHOWN.
IF YOU CAN GET THESE COOLING VESTS THAT THEY HAVE NOW, SOMEBODY'S UNDER DISTRESS, YOU CAN USE THAT 10 BY 10.
AND ALSO THE FANS, UH, IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY, THOSE BIG FANS OF THREE TYPES OF ILLNESSES CAN DEVELOP CRAMPS WHERE WE'VE ALL HAD THEM, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH IT.
YOU GET CRAMPS, YOU GET HYDRATED, NO LIKELIHOOD YOU'RE GONNA GET BETTER.
HEAT EXHAUSTION, THIS IS, IS WHERE IT COMES INTO PLAY THAT YOUR, THE TRAINING THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEBODY IS NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY, YOU SEE HEADACHES, NAUSEA, DIZZINESS, WEAKNESS, AND HEAVY SWEATING OR SIGNS OF THAT.
YOU WANT TO STOP SOMEBODY IF THEY, IF THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION, SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE FOLLOWING HEAT STROKE.
IF, WHICH CAN RESULT IN DEATH.
IF YOU SEE IT, UH, DEVELOPING CALL 9 1 1 1, IT'S ALWAYS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
SO IN CONCLUSION, FROM A SAFETY COMMITTEE STANDPOINT, THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF EMPLOYEES IS PARAMOUNT.
THEIR OBJECTIVE IS TO SEE THAT EACH EMPLOYEE RETURN HOME SAFELY AS THEY CAME TO WORK.
OSHA STANDARDS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AS I SAID, THEY ARE LAWS, UH, AS A G SAFETY CONSULTANT, JAY MONTGOMERY, IT'S ANOTHER ENTITY, IS YOUR PARTNER IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL.
THEY'VE ALREADY DEVELOPED THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S AVAILABLE WHEN YOU SIMPLY GO IN, POP YOUR NAME IN, YOU'VE GOT THAT POLICY IN PLACE BECAUSE IF THE POLICY'S MANUAL IN THE EVENT YOU EVER HAVE AN OCEAN INSPECTION, IT'S THERE.
SO, AND KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS NOT FINALIZED, BUT IT WILL BE PRIOR TO THE HEAT COMING AND IT'LL SHOW, IT'LL SHOW SUPERVISOR WHAT TEMPERATURES THAT WE'RE.
SO THAT CONCLUDES THIS YEAR'S TOPIC.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M SURE YOU DON'T BECAUSE IT'S NOT HOT YET.
BUT WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS YOUR RMC LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP.
AND AS I SAID, WE APPRECIATE IT.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS COMMUNICATIONS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYONE ANYTHING TO SHARE? I HAVE ONE.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT, UM, MYSELF, MAYOR ABAK AND COUNCIL ICK, WERE, HAVE THE HONOR OF ATTENDING THE EMS BANQUET ON SATURDAY.
AND, UM, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
A LOT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE YEARS IN SERVICE, AND I JUST WANNA, UM, EXPRESS OUR CONTINUED, UM, APPRECIATION FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND OUR, THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE TRULY A BACKBONE TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
SO, UM, I HAVE TWO QUICK ONES.
LAST MEETING, UM, I THINK WE HAVE A CONFIRMED HELINE ROAD ON THREE 17 WILL BE CLOSED FOR SIX WEEKS.
AND, UH, DANIEL, I'M, IF I'M CORRECT, IT'S 'CAUSE OF THE DEPTH OF THE PROJECT AND THE EXTENT IN WHICH IT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE, CORRECT? THAT YES, THEY ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE, UH, TAKING A BIG TRENCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
SO BOTH LANES ARE GONNA NEED TO BE CLOSED AND THEY'RE GONNA BE LAYING NEW SEWER MAIN IN THE TRENCH.
AND THEN, UH, SECOND CAVING PROJECT.
THE VILLAGE, I KNOW WE HAVE, THE TOWNSHIP HAS SOME SIDE ROAD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THE COUNTY IS DOING MAIN STREET ON OR AROUND THE 24TH, CORRECT? UH, THE, THE, UH, I'M SORRY.
THE CONTRACTOR, THE CONTRACTOR THAT LAID THE GAS MAIN, UH, BOTH SOUTH JERSEY GAS, THEY, THEY'RE HAVING A CONTRACTOR DO IT.
AND THEN, UM, JUST A QUICK NOTE ON THE FIRST MAIN STREET SUBCOMMITTEE, WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING, UM, THE FOLLOW UP MEETING TO THAT WILL BE ON FOUR TWO.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR MORE BUSINESSES.
THEY HAD SAID THEY APPLIED, UM, I JUST WANTED TO REACH BACK OUT AND STATE PUBLICLY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY PUT IN THEIR APPLICATION SO THEY CAN BE PART OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
UM, BUT ALL IN FROM THERE AS THE FIRST MEETING CAME.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO SCHEDULING ITEMS. MARCH 18TH, 2025 IS THE NEXT SCHEDULED REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING HERE AT 6:30 PM AND MOVING ON
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS FOR THE MINUTES? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SO MOVED.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
[00:10:01]
HAVE NO TOPICS LISTED AS DISCUSSION ITEMS THIS EVENING.UH, WE WILL NOW MOVE IT UP, UH,
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR REGULAR MEETING AND WE ASK THAT GENERAL DECORUM IS EXHIBITED, SO PLEASE BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.AND YOUR NEIGHBORS RECOGNIZE THAT MANY VETERANS LOST THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FREE SPEECH AND MANY ARE FIGHTING FOR THOSE FREEDOMS RIGHT NOW AND HONORING EACH OTHER AS A WAY OF HONORING THEM.
AND ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE ON RECORD ORDINANCE 3 20 20, WHICH CALLS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN PROPER CONDUCT AND AVOID DISTURBING PEACE AT THE MEETING.
AND SO THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO COMMENT PUBLICLY.
IT IS NOT A TIME OF PUBLIC DEBATE, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
AND AGAIN, COMMENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
ALRIGHT, AND I BELIEVE THAT I SAW, GENTLEMEN, ACTUALLY, GOOD EVENING.
ONE, THE SCHOOLS FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WONDERFUL PLACE.
I'M, I'M SORRY, SIR, YOUR, JUST YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
GOT A PROBLEM ON THAT SIDE OF ROAD.
NOT ONLY POTHOLES, BUT ARE NOT BEING REPAIRED PROPERLY.
I'M THE FIRST GENERATION TO MOVE HERE.
NEW GENERATION THIS YEAR WITH YOUNG KIDS WAITING FOR THE BUS IN THE MORNING WITH THEIR PARENTS.
THEY'RE GONNA BASE SOME BALL GO AND SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN ON THAT SIDE, UH, BIG TIME.
PUT THE BLACK BOXES UP A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT WORKED FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WENT AWAY.
THE ONLY WAY I CONTROLLED THIS, IN MY OPINION, NOT AN AUTHORITY ON, BUT I THINK IF WE PUT A POLICE OFFICER ON THE ROAD, WHICH ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME, TOLD ME YOU'D ONLY SEEN ONE OR TWO IN THE PAST YEAR SITTING IN A CUBBY HOLE WHERE YOU CATCH THEM BY SPEED.
IF YOU DO THAT FOR ABOUT A MONTH OR SO, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE SOME MONEY.
NUMBER ONE, FOR BETTER EQUIPMENT TO BE NEED FOR THESE.
AND YOU ALSO STOP IT FOR A WHILE, THEN AGAIN, WE'LL START AGAIN.
BUT THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GONNA CUR IT IS, IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE GIVEN AFFIDAVIT.
NUMBER TWO IS THE ROAD'S TERRIBLE.
AND I WAS QUOTED SAYING IF WE FIX THE POTHOLE, FIX THE ROAD, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE, WE HAVE COUNTY MONEY OR ESTATE MONEY.
DO SOME THE ROAD AND YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO THE WHOLE ROAD.
THAT'S WHAT I'M, THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THAT'S RIGHT OR NOT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
I WAS TOLD THE ROOF FIXED WILL REALLY BE A SPEED LIMIT.
THERE'S BEAUTIFUL HOMES ON THAT OFF, ON THAT SIGN.
AND ALL PEOPLE USE REGULARLY SHORE.
YOU GO TO WORK, COME HOME FROM WORK AND IT'S A PROBLEM.
IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND IT HASN'T STOPPED.
I, A POLICE OFFICER, A FRIEND OF MINE WAS ON
HE COULDN'T MAKE IT THIS EVENING.
HE WAS HAVING DINNER WITH HIS FAMILY AND I GET TO HIM TIME, HE SAID, STATE TROOPER HERE, HE CAN'T A HALF HOUR AGO GUY FLEW BY.
THAT'S ABOUT OUTSIDE OF EARTH REVENUE, IMPORTANT REVENUE POOL.
ARE YOU ALLOWED TO HAVE A BUSINESS FROM YOUR HOME WITH DELIVERIES AND PICK UP IN YOUR HOME? AND IS IT ALLOWED? GO AHEAD IF YOU WANT.
I MEAN, NOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE A ZONING PERMIT FOR IT.
IT DEPENDS ON WHERE, WHERE IT IS.
I'M NOT SURE WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT IT YET.
POTENTIALLY IF THERE'S SOME, WELL, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A BUSINESS BEING OPERATED.
YOU GET THE ADDRESS, PICK UP THE DELIVERY UPS, VERIZON, UH, UM, ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYBODY ELSE DELIVERS AND PICKS UP? SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE SELLING STUFF, BUYING, SELLING IT, BEING PICKED UP, DROP AND PICKED UP, BE DELIVERED.
LOT, LOT OF TRAFFIC, LOT OF, LOT OF EXTRA TRAFFIC THAT YOU DON'T NEED.
CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW MANY CARS YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE IN YOUR DRIVEWAY AT ONE TIME OFF THE I AS A VISITOR? I MEAN, PARK THERE.
AS MANY AS YOU, AS MANY AS YOU CAN FIT NO LAW AGAINST IT.
YEAH, I'M HONESTLY NOT CERTAIN.
WHEN I WAS A KID, OLD JERSEY, WE WENT TO BUY OLD HOUSES WITH CARS UP ON CINDER BLOCKS AND TIRES.
I CAME OUT HERE, I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.
[00:15:01]
THAT'S WHAT IT'S TURNING INTO PEOPLE OPEN UP IS PEOPLE PARKED SIX OR SEVEN CARS, THE DRIVEWAY, THEY CAN'T FIT THE PARKING ON, ON THE LAKE AROUND THE CORNER.HAWTHORNE, GUESS IT'S OUTSIDE LAKE.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON HORNE'S.
A LOT OF HEAD TRAFFIC ON OUTSIDE ROAD.
AND THE ROAD'S GOTTA BE REPAIRED.
ESPECIALLY EVEN THOUGH HAWTHORNE, I SHOULD SAYN.
I SAY THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME.
I APPRECIATE WHAT SO'S NOT ABOUT.
ALRIGHT, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE GENTLEMAN, THE WHITE SWEATSHIRT.
I MEAN AF AFTER YOU PLEASE, YOUR HONOR.
YOU WILL HAVE THE MEN IN THE SWEATSHIRT GO RIGHT AFTER YOU TAKE MINUTES.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE CARS PARKED IN YOUR DRIVEWAY.
THE GUY IS NOT REALLY ON HAWTHORNE DRIVE.
THERE'S A LAKE DOWN THE END OF THE STREET THAT KIND OF CUTS OVER THE CURB AND THAT'S, HE'S RIGHT THERE ON THAT CORNER.
AND IT'S REALLY RUNNING A TOW TOWING BUSINESS.
MEAN THIS HUGE TOW TRUCK CAME DOWN THE STREET LAST NIGHT ABOUT NINE O'CLOCK, AND HE WAS BIG ENOUGH TO HAUL A TRACTOR TRAILER CAB.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S PUTTING THE CARS AND WHY HE'S ALL DOWN THERE, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE DAMAGED.
SOME OF 'EM ARE JUST BEING PARKED THERE.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL THE FAMILIES.
THERE'S LIKE NINE CARS THERE AT ONE GIVEN TIME, AND THEY'RE, SOME OF, I, I THINK THEY'RE ALL KIND BECAUSE THEY NEED TO, BUT WHEN I MOVED ONTO THAT STREET, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CUL-DE-SAC, AND THEY OPENED UP, THEY TOOK A BIG RAILROAD TIDE BLOCK BARRICADE, GOT SEPARATED THAT STREET FROM THE LAKE AREA, WHICH WAS
AND, UM, JUST WHEN THEY A THE FACT THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING AND THEY'RE NOT CHANGING FOR THEIR GOOD.
THE GUY WHO HAS A DELIVERY SERVICE, THERE IS AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF DELIVERY TRUCKS THAT COME DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE HE HAS UPS, FEDEX, UH, UH, CAN'T NAME 'EM ALL, BUT THEY'RE ALL POSTED TO HAVE ALL THESE SIGNS ON THE TREES AND A DROP OFF BLOCK.
AND ANY GIVEN DAY YOU GO DOWN THERE, THERE'S LIKE 10 BOXES OUT THERE.
AND I'M THINKING LIKE, YOU NEED A PERMIT TO DO THIS.
SO THAT WAS JUST FIVE MINUTES
UH, SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
YOU SAID THERE WAS A RAILROAD TIME MOVED.
AND THEY BUILT REASONABLE FLOOR, WHICH IS WHAT THAT DEVELOPMENT IS STILL.
THERE'S THEIR SIGN AND THE END, THE END OF WHERE THE NEW HOUSES THAT
THERE WAS A, IT WAS A BIG TELEPHONE CALL,
AND SUDDENLY DON GOTTEN REMOVED WITHOUT, I NEVER GOT ASKED IN, IN THE LAST YEAR, FIVE YEARS AGO.
OH, NO, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
IT'S BEEN, GOT LONG TIME, LONG BEFORE YOU GUYS, YOU WERE BORN
WELL, I, I'M 70, SO FATHER, UM, WELL, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I JUST WANNA KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO EITHER FIND OUT WHETHER WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS LEGAL AND IF IT IS, SO BE IT, IT'S AMERICA, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THING.
AND IF IT'S NOT, I WOULD LIKE THAT CEASE AND DEIST BECAUSE IT'S, IT, IT ANNOYS, UH, IT CREATES A DISTURBANCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE OTHER COMPLAINT, I WAS ABOUT BARKING DOGS,
AND YOU CAN ASK YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, I'VE CALLED MANY TIMES ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE DOGS BARKING AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WITHOUT LETTING HIM IN.
I, I OWN A DOG AND MY DOG DOES NOT BARK.
I DON'T LET HIM OUT TO BARK AT NIGHT AND LETTING HIM OUT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
SO I RESPECT THE PEOPLE'S PRIVACY AND, AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO DISTURB THE BEAST, BUT I GO TO BED AT NINE O'CLOCK AND THESE DOGS ARE BARKING.
SO 11 AND I GET TIRED OF CALLING THE POLICE STATION.
THEY MUST KNOW MY NUMBER BY HEART.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO ENFORCE THAT CODE.
UM, ZACH WILSON, 51 NORTH MAIN STREET.
UM, WANTED TO JUST START BY, UH, THANKING BETHANY AND MIKE FOR, UM, THEIR, UH, THE START OF THE VILLAGE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS, UH,
UM, I THINK IT WAS GREAT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE WAYS THAT WE CAN KIND OF HELP POSITIVELY, UH, HELP THE, THE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN IN TOWN.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO TALK TODAY
[00:20:01]
BECAUSE I NOTICED IN REVIEWING PAGE THREE OF THE AGENDA TONIGHT THAT THERE'S THE VOTE, UH, THAT, UH, THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE RFP FOR THE OLD TOWN LIBRARY IS IN THE, UH, CONTINUING RESOLUTION OR WHATEVER IT WAS.UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT IF YOU ASK AROUND TOWN, THERE'S STILL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEIR RESERVATIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE DID AN RFP FOR A PUBLIC PROPERTY.
UM, THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY WANTED MORE OPENNESS.
EVEN IF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU FOLLOWED THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM THAT WAS REQUIRED, UH, I HAVE STOOD UP HERE AND ASKED FOR MORE THAN THE MINIMUM TO, FOR YOU TO PROACTIVELY ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AROUND THIS.
AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH THIS BUILDING, YOU HAVEN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING BEYOND JUST PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA AND BRINGING IT UP IN, IN THE COUNCIL MEETING.
YOU HAVEN'T POSTED A SEPARATE SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM THE TOWNSHIP PAGE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
YOU HAVEN'T USED ANY OTHER FORM OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT IT.
AND, AND IN SEVERAL CASES IT HAS BEEN ON THE CONSENT, UH, THE CONSENT RESOLUTION ITEMS INSTEAD OF AS A SEPARATE MEET SPEAKING TOPIC.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THESE ARE PROCEDURAL STEPS, HOWEVER, THEY RISE ABOVE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS LIKE AWARDING A CONTRACT BECAUSE THIS IS PUBLIC PROPERTY.
THIS IS MY PROPERTY, THIS IS THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS IS, I GRANTED YOUR PROPERTY AS RESIDENCE, BUT NOT AS THE COUNCIL.
AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO BE MORE PROACTIVE TO SEEK INPUT, TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST RESPONSE, RIGHT? IF YOU GET PEOPLE OUT HERE TALKING ABOUT IT, IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO THE MEETINGS BY LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE, ON THE TOPIC TODAY.
YOU CAN GET THEM OUT HERE AND GET THEM ENGAGED EARLY ON SO THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED SO THAT THEY HAVE THAT PERCEPTION GOING FORWARD.
OKAY? BUT WHEN IT'S VARIED ON PAGE THREE OF AN, OF AN AGENDA AFTER YOU'VE BEEN REPEATEDLY ASKED TO DO MORE THAN THE MINIMUM PERCEPTIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE ABOUT WHY YOU'RE DOING THAT AND WHY YOU'RE NOT DOING MORE THAN THE MINIMUM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S JUST GOING OUT FOR THE RFP AND THEN WE WILL RECEIVE THOSE REQUESTS COMING IN, BUT IT DESERVES MORE OF A COMMUNICATION SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, WE HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT HAD TO BE STARTED IN PART BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE OLD TOWN, UH, HALL SITE AND THE, THE PARKING ISSUES THAT THAT'S GOING TO DEVELOP.
WHY CAN'T WE PROACTIVELY ENGAGE EARLY SO THAT WE CAN GET INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THAT EARLY ON AND TAKE STEPS IN ADVANCE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING TWO YEARS FROM NOW.
WHEN THAT PLACE IS ABOUT TO, I ASK YOU TO DO MORE THAN JUST THE BARE MINIMUM AND PUBLISHING IT ON AGENDA ITEM ON PAGE THREE AND NOT TAKING SPECIAL NOTICE OF IT WHEN IT DOES, I THINK RISE ABOVE, YOU KNOW, AUTHORING, UH, YOU KNOW, AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT.
I THINK IT RISES ABOVE THAT AND I ASK YOU TO TREAT IT LIKE THE IMPORTANT TOWN MATTER THAT IT IS AGAIN, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE ASKED THIS OF YOU EVERY TIME I'VE SEEN IT ON THE AGENDA SINCE IT'S COME UP.
UH, IF, IF I CAN, WE CERTAINLY AFFIRM EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SAID.
YOU HAVE BEEN, WE INCREDIBLY FAITHFUL TO COME AND, AND REMIND US OF THESE THINGS.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE VALUABLE THINGS AND WE'VE TAKEN MANY OF YOUR ITEMS TO HEART AND, AND TO NOTE.
SO IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE DID HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
WE DID ESTABLISH THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PURSUING FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
UH, WE DO ALSO, I BELIEVE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. PRIME, BUT I BELIEVE IT 30 DAYS IS A MINIMUM.
WE'VE EXTENDED THIS TO 60 DAYS TO ADD, UH, AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF, UM, UH, ACCESS FOR EVERYONE.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS. MR. KEL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION A FEW.
I JUST HAD, I THINK YOU REQUESTED A SIGN BE POSTED.
SO IF YOU APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT, THE SIGN SHOULD BE OUT THERE BY THURSDAY.
SO THERE'D BE SIGN IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE RFP AND RESPOND.
ALSO, ONCE IT'S AUTHORIZED AT THAT POINT, THEN YOU CAN ADVERTISE IT, IT CAN GO OUT ON THE TOWNSHIP'S FACEBOOK PAGE OR TOWNSHIP WEBSITE OR NEWSLETTERS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.
BUT THIS IS JUST AUTHORIZING IT TO GO OUT FOR YEAH.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I, AND I, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT IS POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT BASED ON FEEDBACK THAT YOU RECEIVED.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT IN A GOVERNMENT.
ALRIGHT, WELL YOU'RE, YOU'RE A GIANT PART OF THAT, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND WE'VE REALLY HEARD THOSE WELL AND, AND TRY TO REACT TO IT.
THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
[00:25:02]
HELLO EVERYONE.UM, I THINK OF TWO QUICK ONES, ONE ABOUT TRAFFIC.
WE HAVE, UM, A REAL NARROW ROAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE, BUT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS WITH THE FARM.
SO WE'VE GOT GOES AND FEW COLTS AND KIDS ARE WALKING THROUGH LIKE CRAZY.
SO WE'RE SURROUNDED BY DEVELOPMENTS AND SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH AND LEARN ABOUT THE FARM SPEED LIMIT'S 35.
UM, I DON'T WANT POLICE OR ANYTHING THERE, BUT MAYBE A CHANGE OF SIGN TO 25 20.
LIKE JUST, IT'S A PUBLIC APPROACH.
JUST DRIVE DOWN THERE AND, AND IT'S NOT ANYONE'S FAULT.
I THINK SOMETIMES GPS IS A LITTLE MESSED UP STILL.
SO WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM DELAWARE, FROM MARYLAND THAT DRIVE THROUGH.
THEY THINK IT'S 35 LIKE IN, I, I DON'T BLAME 'EM FOR IT.
IT'S JUST KIND OF WHAT IT'S, SO THAT WAS ONE, UM, TWO VERY QUICKLY.
AND I DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP AN LITTLE SCAB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S GETTING ME GROWING SEASON ARTICLE 54.
SO THAT'S THE CANNABIS ARTICLE.
UM, I'VE READ IT A WHOLE BUNCH OF TIMES AND I THINK IT CAN BE INTERPRETED A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, IS HEMP INCLUDED IN THAT OR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT? SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, IF I MAY, A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP AND MARIJUANA IS THE THC LEVEL.
UM, THC, THEY TRY TO GET TO THE 2025 RANGE WHENEVER THEY CAN.
SO THE STATE COMES OUT AND GETS CERTIFIED.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING AS FAR AS THE TOWNSHIP GOES AND THAT YOU THAN A LETTER OF THE LAW THAT YOU, IT'S LIKE IT'S PROTECTED BY THE RIGHT FARM ACT, UM, IN NEW JERSEY.
AND IT IS COVERED BY THE FEDERAL FARM BILL.
I WAS GONNA SAY, I DON'T THINK IT'S REGULATED BY THE CANNABIS CON WHATEVER THE COMMISSION IS IN, IN THE STATE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PEN IS OKAY, BUT I CAN VERIFY THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND.
I'LL WAIT UNTIL AFTER, PLEASE.
I, I REPRESENT THE WHITAKER WHO ARE HERE.
THEY WERE MADE A PRESENTATION.
THEY LIVE AT EIGHT HARFORD ROAD.
UH, THEY MADE A PRESENTATION TO YOU AT THE LAST MEETING, I BELIEVE.
AND ESSENTIALLY THEY WANT TO OPERATE THIS GOLF COURSE.
NOW I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THE MERITS OF THE APPLICATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE ZONING BOARD AND THAT'S, THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BOARD AND THEY'RE INDEPENDENT AND CAN MAKE THEIR DECISION MAKING.
BUT THERE, I BELIEVE THERE'S A GLITCH IN YOUR ZONING ORDERS THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED EITHER BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO THE ZONING BOARD OR MODIFYING AND TWEAKING THE ORDINANCE TO, TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION WE HAVE NOW.
UH, THE DISC GOLF COURSE IS A HOBBY.
THE APPLICATION FEES FOR THE USE VARIANCE APPLICATION AND USE VARIANCE FEES, $2,500 THEY MAKE, THEY WILL MAKE NO DRIVE, NO INCOME FROM THIS USE.
THE ORDINANCE BASICALLY SAYS YOU CAN ONLY GET A SITE PLAN WAIVER IF YOU'RE GOING FROM ONE PERMITTED USE TO ANOTHER PERMITTED USE.
AND BASICALLY IT'S A TURNKEY SITE.
YOU'RE MOVING FROM ONE SITE OR YOU'RE HAVING ONE USE CHANGE TO ANOTHER USE.
AND YOU, THERE IS NO SITE IMPROVEMENTS INVOLVED.
THE SITUATION WE HAVE HERE IS, IS THE DISCOURSE IS IS THERE, THE APPLICATION FOR THE ZONING BOARD IS FOR A USE VARIANCE TO LET THEM HAVE ESSENTIALLY SIX TOURNAMENTS A YEAR.
ORIGINALLY, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THE MERITS OF IT, BUT WE RECEIVED A ZONING INTERPRETATION TODAY, ESSENTIALLY TO THE EFFECT THAT YOU CAN'T GET A SITE PLAN WAIVER.
NOW IF, IF, IF THAT INTERPRETATION STANDS, THE, THE APPLICATION AND ESCROW FEES ON A SITE PLAN ARE, UH, $7,500.
SO THE TOTAL COST OF THE, THE APPLICATION FOR, FOR SOUP TO NUTS.
IF WE HAVE TO DO, AND IT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE BIFURCATED.
WELL, IT MIGHT HAVE TO GO BIFURCATED WITH TWO SETS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IT'LL COST $10,000 FOR ESSENTIALLY A HOBBY THAT'S NOT GOING TO DERIVE ANY INCOME FOR MY CLIENTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEKING IS, IS, IS, UM, MAYBE SOME INTERPRETIVE GUIDANCE FROM MR. PRIME'S OFFICE OR, OR POSSIBLY A TWEAKING OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF TO, TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF A USE VARIANCE APPLICATION.
'CAUSE I I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S EVER CONTEMPLATED A SITUATION WHERE IT WOULD BE TURNKEY.
NOW THE COURSE IS OUT THERE, THEY'RE JUST 18 HOLES ON A 15 ACRE COURSE AND THERE'S A LITTLE, UH, UH, I I GUESS, UH, MATTED, ALMOST LIKE MINI GOLF TEE TEE BOXES FOR THIS AND YOU GROW FROM BOX TO BOX.
WHEN THEY CONSULTED ME, THEY, THEY FOUND THE
[00:30:01]
ONLY ATTORNEY I KNOW WHO PLAYS, I PLAY WITH MY SON.SO IT'S KIND OF A HOBBY MYSELF.
AND I'M DOING THIS, I'M DOING THIS PRO BONO BECAUSE I I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT SPORT.
IT IT, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY OUT THE BOARD, WHICH IS OKAY FOR ME BECAUSE MY LAW OFFICES IN, BUT IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR BEDFORD TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE.
AND, AND THE, THE WAY THE APPLICATION IS PRESENTED, IT'S VERY NARROW AND CIRCUM SUBSCRIBED.
IT'S LIMITED THE SIX TOURNAMENTS, SIX DAYS OUTTA 365 DAYS A YEAR.
IT, IT'S LIMITED TO 54 GOLFERS.
AND WE HAVE PERMISSION LETTERS FOR PARKING FROM THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
SO THERE'LL BE MORE THAN AMPLE PARKING.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ANY SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT ALL.
WE JUST BELIEVE THAT IF THE APPLICATION IN ESCROW FEES ARE 10,000, IT'S GONNA KILL.
IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA BE A FAILURE IN LAUNCH.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, WE'RE JUST BRINGING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND WE HOPE YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT IF YOU COULD.
AND I ALSO HAVE THE EMAIL WITH THE INTERPRETATION, WHICH I'LL GIVE TO MR. PRIME.
AND IT'S REALLY, IT'S, IT IS JUST A GLITCH.
NOW, JUST ANECDOTALLY, I USED TO PROVIDE LEGAL WORK FOR THE TOWN MANY YEARS IN FACT GENERATIONAL.
MY FATHER WAS THE CLAIM BOARD ATTORNEY FROM LIKE THE 1980S.
AND, AND MYSELF, I I, I'VE WORKED FOR THE TOWN MANY YEARS.
WE USED TO GRANT SITE CLAIM WAIVERS WHERE THE CIRCUMSTANCE STANCES AROSE WHERE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF COMMON TO IT.
YOU DON'T DO A LITERAL INTERPRETATION IN AN ABSURD RESULT.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STUCK BECAUSE THIS INTERPRETATION STANDS, THIS APPLICATION'S GONNA DIE ON THE LINE.
THANK YOU MR. PRIME NEXT STEPS FOR THIS? WELL, IT'S POLICY DECISION REALLY.
I THINK IT'D BE SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO DISCUSS INTERNALLY AMONGST COUNCIL.
'CAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME RISK OF PRECEDENT, NOT REALLY JUST FOR DISC GOLF, BUT FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
I THINK IT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS MORE OF AKIN TO LIKE, ALMOST LIKE A SOCIAL AFFAIRS PERMIT, RIGHT? YOU DON'T HAVE THESE BUSINESSES OR EVENTS HOLDING THEIR OWN LIQUOR LICENSES.
THEY HOLD EVENTS A FEW TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE AN EXCEPTION OR SOME SORT OF POLICY CHANGE FOR A LIMITED USE.
WE DID, I THINK TIM, YOUR FATHER, WE DEFINITELY TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.
I JUST DON'T REMEMBER DRAFT, SO WE'LL HAVE TO, I DRAFTED ONE IN 2000, DOUBLE BACK ONE.
SO IT, IT'S NEVER DONE BEFORE.
I THINK PRACTICALLY IT MAKES SENSE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
IT'S REALLY MORE OF A POLICY DECISION.
WHAT'S THE TIMING, I GUESS? WHEN WOULD YOU WELL, WE CAN'T PROCEED WITH THE APPLICATION AS LONG AS WE NEED TO APPLY FOR A SITE PLAN.
IT'S, IT'S, I MEANT PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WHEN WOULD YOU WANT, WHEN WOULD THE FIRST TOURNAMENT OR WHATEVER BE LIKE WHAT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF TIME AND THE WEATHER GETS BETTER? COUPLE MONTHS, WEEK, SOMETHING YOU LIST FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION, THE NEXT MEETING AND OKAY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TOO.
THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST PART OF THE PROCESS.
UH, SO CAN WE ASK FOR THAT TO BE LISTED FOR DISCUSSION? YES.
CAR 2 65 AFTER MOUNT HOLLY ROAD.
UM, LIKE THE PODIUM GUYS, IT'S NICE.
OKAY, SO, UM, I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANNA SPEAK OUT ABOUT.
ONE MAYOR, UH, REP STUFF, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH MEETINGS, OPENING IT UP.
I HAVE A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN, BUT I'M ABLE TO CATCH EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING.
IT'S GOT A NICE LITTLE SMOOTH, UM, WAY ABOUT IT.
IT'S FUNNY, YOU KNOW, I NEVER REALLY TAKE NOTES AND I SIT UP HERE AND I KIND OF, I TRY TO GO OFF THE CUFF AND I DON'T WANNA GO DOWN A RABBIT HOLE, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK I REMEMBER EIGHT HARTFORD ROAD.
THERE USED TO BE ANIMALS THERE AND YEAH.
UM, THE PEOPLE WE KNEW THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THERE BEFORE THEM, OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JEAN TANS AND THEY HAD SUCH A ROUGH TOWN TIME HERE IN METFORD WITH THE ZONING DEPARTMENT TO THE POINT WHERE I BELIEVE SHE PUT UP SOMETHING ON, ON OH 8, 0 5 5.
LIKE, HEY, EASTER'S COMING UP AND STOP BY YOUR KIDS AND TAKE A PHOTO FOR WHATEVER, $10, YOU KNOW, THE
[00:35:01]
ZONING DEPARTMENT BURIED ON THE LETTERS.AND I KNOW THERE WAS MAYBE SOME OTHER PROBLEMS THERE.
I REMEMBER LIKE VERIZON TRUCKS PARKED DOWN THE CREEK, BUT THEY LITERALLY DID MOVE.
THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE.
IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE LITERALLY JUST BEING WATCHED AND HARASSED AND UM, LIKE THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AT LEAST WITH THE ANIMAL PART OF IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I, WE DID TALK AND MY SISTER WAS ONCE SAID, YO, THERE'S UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE THERE AND WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
ANYWAY, WE KNOW A LOT OF THINGS CHANGE AND WE DON'T HAVE A ZONING OFFICER NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA WATCHING STUFF AND THEN SENDING OUT LETTERS AT LEAST WITHOUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A COMPLAINT WITH SOMEBODY'S SIGNATURE THAT'S WILLING TO SAY, HEY, I'M THE ONE THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MEETING.
NO MORE ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT, BUT GOOD LUCK.
THE LAST MEETING SHE GOT, SHE WAS HERE GUYS, IS WHEN, UH, FRANK, FRANK THREATENED US WITH MORE TICKETS.
AND I KNOW IT THREATENED ME, BUT THE TICKETS WERE GOING TO HER AND, UM, IT TOOK A LOT FOR ME TO GET HER UP HERE.
I PROMISED HER THAT FOR
AND, UM, WE ALL KNOW IN THE ROOM GUYS AT THIS POINT, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
I DON'T NEED TO SORT OF SAY, HEY, THIS HAPPENED, THAT HAPPENED.
BUT, UM, I'M JUST HOPING SOMEBODY UP HERE HAS, HAS HAD, HAS SOMETHING MAYBE ON THEIR MIND OR SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD SAY TO OUR FAMILY, TO OUR MOTHER, UM, THIS IS WHY I SHOULD WRITE THIS STUFF DOWN.
UM, TO, TO BRING PEACE IN OUR LIVES.
AND I KNOW LIKE SOMEWHAT ABOUT LIKE THE POLITICS AND HOW IT'S LIKE, HEY MAN, WE JUST ALWAYS MOVE ON, MOVE ON, MOVE ON.
LOOKING BACK, I KNOW WHAT, WHAT DO WE LEARN? WHAT, WHAT KIND OF LESSONS, UM, DID WE LEARN FROM MISTAKES IF WE JUST LITERALLY PRETEND LIKE EITHER HAPPEN OR IT DID HAPPEN, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND, AND GO FORWARD.
THE THE MORALE IN THE COMMUNITY HA HAS NEVER BEEN THIS LOW.
AT LEAST ACTUALLY I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN ALL THIS STUFF, BUT I, I, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD TELL PEOPLE STILL, LIKE THEY'VE LOST FAITH.
THEY, THEY REALLY HAVE LOST FAITH AND NOW THINGS HAVE BECOME THE NORM THAT YOU WOULD THINK COULD NEVER HAPPEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY WITH WHATEVER THE, THE, SOMEBODY FROM NORTH JERSEY COMING UP, COMING DOWN HERE, NOBODY GOT A SHOT AT EVEN BUYING THAT BILL.
BUT ANYWAY, LET'S, LET'S GET STUFF GOING DOWN.
I WAS HOPING SOMEBODY UP HERE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO ANOTHER AND MONEY FROM MENTOR DIFFERENT TOO.
ALRIGHT GUYS, AND THANK YOU AND LOVE THIS MAN.
ALRIGHT, JOHN, GUYS, THANK YOU.
UH, IF I, IF I COULD I'LL, THIS MAY BE A LITTLE LONG-WINDED.
AND, UH, THIS YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, I RECEIVED A BOOK, UH, THAT WAS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MEDFORD, RIGHT? UH, A HISTORY TEACHER AT MEDFORD HIGH AT SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL WAS, UH, THE AUTHOR A UH, WELL-KNOWN BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER, TOOK THE PICTURES FOR IT AND THEY ASSEMBLED THIS, PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH THIS, I LOVE THE HISTORY OF MEDFORD AND AS I'M READING THROUGH THIS BOOK, I KEEP COMING ACROSS IMAGES AND PHOTOS THAT A MAN NAMED BRIAN CARNES HAD SUBMITTED ALL THROUGH THIS BOOK PAGE AFTER PAGE AFTER PAGE.
AND AS I WAS READING THIS, IT WAS A COUPLE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS, AS I'M READING THIS KINDA CURLED UP WITH A CUP OF COFFEE, I'M RECOGNIZING THE LONGEVITY OF THE CARNS FAMILY.
AND SO CERTAINLY MRS. KANE, IT IS A, IS REALLY A PRIVILEGE FOR, FOR US TO HAVE YOU IN THE COURTROOM.
AND WE RECOGNIZE YOUR, YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS TOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND SO AS I THINK ABOUT THE, THE LAST, I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF AS I THINK ABOUT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OF MY TIME HERE ON COUNCIL, AS A COUNCILMAN, AS DEPUTY MAYOR, NOW AS MAYOR, I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT PERIOD OF TIME, TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO WAS PERHAPS THE LOW POINT OF, OF MY TIME HERE.
IT WAS DIFFICULT, IT WAS CHALLENGING.
IT WAS A, A, A DIFFICULT TIME FOR EVERYONE IN MEDFORD.
AND, AND THAT'S A RECOGNITION.
AND SO WE JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AT THE TOWN LOOKING AT THE CHALLENGES OF THREE YEARS AGO, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY WE'VE REORGANIZED, WE, WE HAVE A NEW TOWNSHIP MANAGER, WE HAVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY.
AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FAMILY TONIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I JUST WANNA SAY HIS MOM LOOKS TERRIFIC FOR, FOR HER AGE.
[00:40:04]
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, MOVE SECOND.OPPOSED? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]
REPORT.I HAVE A FEW ITEMS TONIGHT FOR, UH, COUNSEL IN THE PUBLIC AND UH, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO SPEAK A LITTLE MORE, UH, CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE 'CAUSE PEOPLE OUT IN THE PUBLIC, LIKE FROM HOME ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING AND I TEND TO BE SOFT SPOKEN.
UH, FIRST I, I LIKE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO FOR, UM, LEE OWEN SHADAK TO BECOME OUR NEW VOLUNTEER, UH, FIREFIGHTER FOR STATION 2 51 AS COUNCIL OBSERVED IN THE PACKET, UH, LEE IS A RETIRED SERVICE MEMBER AND ALSO IS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER FROM THE JOINT BASE.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE VALUE HE'S GONNA BRING TO THE, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY WITH THOSE YEARS, I MEAN LITERALLY DECADES OF EXPERIENCE OF FIGHTING FIRES ON A BASE.
THAT'S JUST GREAT EXPERIENCE TO BRING INTO OUR FIRE COMPANY.
UM, A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS, THE TAX COLLECTOR AND THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE NEW, UM, SOFTWARE THAT READS, UH, REMOTELY READS PEOPLE'S, UH, WATER METERS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING, UH, TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT.
IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYBODY'S BILLS, THEY'RE STILL GONNA GET THEIR BILLS.
AT THE SAME TIME, OUR BUILDING'S JUST GONNA BECOME MORE EFFICIENT NOW THAT WE CAN DRIVE BY DOWN THE STREET AND BE ABLE TO READ IT RATHER THAN HAVE TO SEND SOMEBODY OUT THERE AND LOOK AT METERS.
UM, FIRE DEPARTMENT LAID BUTCH MURFIELD DUR REST OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, JUST IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM.
60 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE, UH, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES 60 YEARS.
UM, OVER IN, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, KIND OF CONNECTED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE, UM, APPLIED FOR A CONTROLLED BURN PERMIT THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY FOREST FIRE SERVICE.
DO SOME CONTROLLED BURNS OUT ON JACKSON ROAD AND GOT GOTTLIEB'S FIELD AREA.
UM, THE AMBULANCE FOR EMS IS BEING LETTERED.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT WITHIN SERVICE PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BRAND NEW AMBULANCE BEING UP AND RUNNING.
AND AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, IF COUNSEL APPROVES RESOLUTION 55 20 25 TONIGHT, WE'LL HAVE THAT SIGN WITH THE RFP LINKED TO THE RFP ERECTED IN FRONT OF THE 39 ALLEN NEIL PINELANDS LIBRARY.
AND WE WILL ALSO POST IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF IT.
WELL WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE VOLUNTEERS AND SO CHIEF DOVEY, IF YOU COULD EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION, UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPLICATION? A ALL, ALL THEN.
OPPOSED? OUR NEW FIREFIGHTER IS APPROVED.
[IX. CLERK’S REPORT]
THE CLERK COURT PLEASE.MARY'S THE LAKE SCHOOL RAFFLE.
WE HAVE A 50 50 RAFFLE MAY 12TH THROUGH 17 AND A SUPER 50 50 ON MAY 17TH.
AND WE HAVE, UH, WOODFORD TO RUN WILDLIFE WRECKAGE RAFFLE UH, 50 50 IN A BASKET ON OCTOBER 18TH AND A BASKET ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
[X. BILL LIST]
HAVE ONE BILL LIST TWO ACCEPT FOR FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025.WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BILL LIST.
OPPOSED? THE BILL LIST IS ACCEPTED.
[XI. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION]
FIRST READING.WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH FIVE? I MOVE THAT.
COUNSEL INTRODUCE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH FIVE AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE 2 0 0 2 DASH 30 FOR ESTABLISHING A LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM.
THE LO SAP TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS FOR FIREFIGHTING AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
UH, THIS ORDINANCE UPDATES THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS CREDITED FOR POINTS EARNED TO MEET THE CURRENT STATE APPROVED AWARD INCREASES AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
IT ALSO CLARIFIES THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE VESTED IN THE, IN THE PROGRAM.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS WILL BE ON MARCH 18TH, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ORDINANCE? UM, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.
I FEEL THAT WE STILL NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION UM, BEFORE WE, WE PASSED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WAS LACKING PRIOR TO THIS AGENDA COMING OUT.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
[00:45:01]
DEPUTY MAYOR AYE.A WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SIX? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL INTRODUCE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SIX AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE, SECTION 62 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS. THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, THIS ORDINANCE ADDRESSES PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS INCLUDING MAILBOXES BELOW THE TOWNSHIP'S $1,000 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS WILL BE MARCH 18TH, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ORDINANCE? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL.
WE HAVE TWO ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING.
[XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S) ]
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH THREE? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH THREE AMENDING THE TOWNSHIP CODE CHAPTER FIVE, SECTION 79 ENTITLED DEPARTMENT OF POLICE TO ADD A NEW SUBSECTION M TO AUTHORIZE PROGRAM RULES FOR OFF-DUTY POLICE JOBS.UH, DO WE HAVE SECOND? SECOND? ALRIGHT, THIS ORATE ORDINANCE UH, UPDATES THE RULES AND ALLOWS FOR THIRD PARTY VENDOR TO ADMINISTER THE OFF-DUTY POLICE JOBS WITH SCHEDULING, MANAGING FEES AND MAINTAINING RECORDS.
SO WE NOW OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL YOU UP FOR THE MICROPHONE.
ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS? ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION PLEASE.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SIX I, I'M SORRY, DASH FOUR, EXCUSE ME.
OKAY, SO THE STAFF HAVE REVIEWED THE FEES AND LICENSES AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FEES BASED ON WHAT THE STATE CHARGES AS WELL AS OTHER MUNICIPALITY FEES AND THE COST OF PROVIDING CERTAIN SERVICES.
SO WE NOW OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE AND IF SO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
ANY COUNSEL COMMENTS ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION PLEASE.
AYE RESTOCK AYE THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED REGARDING CONSENT AGENDA
[XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS]
RESOLUTIONS WE HAVE RESOLUTION 49 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING REFUND FOR 2025 TAX OVERPAYMENTS RESOLUTION 50 20 25 AUTHORIZING REFUND OF ERRONEOUS 2025 TAX OVERPAYMENTS RESOLUTION 51 20 25 APPOINTING A FUND COMMISSIONER AND ALTERNATE TO SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY REGIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND RESOLUTION 52 20 25 AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH ERI FOR ADDITIONAL KIRBY'S MILL DAM ENGINEERING FOR DAM REPAIRS RESOLUTION 53 20 25 AUTHORIZING THE AWARD FOR A CONTRACT TO ALL JAY'S SERVICES LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,665 FOR THE CRANBERRY HALL RE RENOVATIONS PROJECT RESOLUTION 54 20 25 AUTHORIZING SOLICITATION ON ROADWAYS PERMIT RESOLUTION 55 20 25 AUTHORIZING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER TOWNSHIP LIBRARY OF PROPERTY 39 ALLEN AVENUE BLOCK 1705 LOT 7.01.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.
SAME SECOND ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
MAYOR RED AYE THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED.
WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS LISTED THIS EVENING, BUT WE DO HAVE
[XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION ES 0 3 0 4 20 25 DEALING WITH PERSONNEL AND PUBLIC BODY APPOINTMENT NJSA TEN FOUR DASH 12 B EIGHT.WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? MOVE SECOND.
[00:50:01]
THE MOTION IS APPROVED.SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY IN THE ROOM AND WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE HALF AN HOUR PROBABLY.
I NEVER CAN GET IT RIGHT, BUT YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY 30 MINUTES.
RIGHT? SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE AN ACTION MAY BE TAKEN.
I RECONVENED THE OPEN PORTION OF THE MEETING.
WE DISCUSSED ALL THE ITEMS ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA AND ACTION WAS TAKEN.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD RESOLUTION? 56 DASH 2025 APPOINTMENTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD OR MAKE A MOTION TO ADD RESOLUTION? 57 DASH 2025 AMENDING APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS? SECOND.
ALRIGHT, SO THE ITEMS ARE ADDED.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EX PROOF TO APPROVE? THANK YOU.
2025 APPOINTMENTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
ALRIGHT, VOICE VOTE FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
BUT ANYONE LIKE TO THE RESOLUTIONS CARRIED.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION? 57 DASH 2025 AMENDING APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MOVED.
SECOND VOICE VOTE FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
ALRIGHT, ANY FINAL COMMENTS? I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN, SO A MOVED SECOND.