[ I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]
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I CALLED THE ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD TOWN COUNCIL FOR MARCH 18TH, 2025.
NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT BY POSTING A COPY OF THE AGENDA IN THE, ON 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 WRITTEN NOTICE TO EACH PERSON WHO HAS REQUESTED COPIES OF THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE.
ALL THE ABOVE POSTING, FILING, AND MAILING HAS TAKEN PLACE ON THE 14TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
[ II. FLAG SALUTE ]
THE FLAG SEAT DETAIL.IT SHOULD PRESENT OUR I PLEDGE INSTITUTE FLAG ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, THE BORDER ARMS PARADE.
[ III. ROLL CALL]
PLEASE, MS. MILL HERE, MS. SIMON, MR. WATSON, DEPUTY[ IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda ]
PRESENTATION SCHEDULED TODAY.IT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY TO SCHEDULE FOR TODAY OUR PRESENTATION OF THE POLICE AWARDS.
SO WE'LL BE DOWN TO THE FRONT AND, UH, CHIEF PLEASE.
TONIGHT, WE TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS, FROM WAVERING, BRAVERY, AND STEPPAS DEDICATION TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF OUR OFFICERS, AS WELL AS RETIRED PERSONNEL TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY TO CELEBRATE REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY THESE INDIVIDUALS.
BEFORE WE COMMENCE THIS EVENING'S PROCEEDINGS, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MAYOR ERIC RESTOCK AND OUR TOWN COUNCIL FOR GRANTING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE OUR PERSONNEL.
I ALSO WISH TO PUBLIC, PUBLIC PUBLICLY COMMEND ALL OF OUR SWORN OFFICERS FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
FURTHERMORE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES WHO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF MET POTENTIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDE INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO OUR SWORN PERSONNEL, OUR CLERICAL STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION, MARGARITE LAWRENCE AND EMMA JENSEN IN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE BUREAU, STACEY WOMACK AND GRACE JENSEN, THEY ARE CLEANS AND IN POLICE RECORDS, MARI OSA AND CHARLENE JUICE.
WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS AS THEIR WORK IS ESSENTIAL IN OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
WE WILL NOW COMMENCE WITH TONIGHT'S AWARDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP CAPTAIN WILLIAM D DUNLEAVY TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST SET COMING MINUTES.
OKAY, UH, OFFICER SHANE SNYDER, PLEASE.
ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2024, OFFICER SHANE SNYDER WAS OFF DUTY TRAVELING ON ROUTE 73 IN EASTHAM TOWNSHIP WHILE TRAVELING ON 73 IN HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE.
OFFICER SNYDER UNFORTUNATELY WITNESSED A PEDESTRIAN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE A 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND.
ON 73, OFFICER SNYDER IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED BRONTE COUNTY CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS REQUESTING HAN POLICE RESPOND AND BEGAN AND BEGAN TO PROVIDE MEDICAL AID TO THE CHILD, SPECIFICALLY CPR, WHICH WAS MAINTAINED UNTIL HE WAS RELIEVED BY ADDITIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL.
OFFICER SCHNEIDER DID NOT HESITATE, NOR DID HE PUT ANY THOUGHT INTO OTHER ACTIONS OTHER THAN PROVIDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WITH NO REGARD TO HIS OWN PERSONAL NEEDS OR SAFETY.
HIS ACTIONS ALLOWED THE CHILD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE INTUBATED, AND THE FAMILY WAS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR FAREWELLS TO THE BELOVED FAMILY MEMBER OFFICER SCHNEIDER SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION TO DUTY, AND IMMEDIATE ACTIONS THAT ULTIMATELY PROVIDED THE VICTIM'S FAMILY SOME CLOSURE.
DURING THIS SIGNIFICANT TRAUMATIC INCIDENT FOR THAT OFFICER SCHNEIDER'S AWARD, AN EXCEPTIONAL DUTY MATTER, CORPORAL JOHN DII, OFFICER JOSH BEATS, OFFICER PATRICK HICKEY, OFFICER LANCE SIMS, OFFICER RYAN FULLMER, SERGEANT MARK MCCUE, DETECTIVE CORPORAL RYAN COLLINS, ON OCTOBER 23RD, 2020 4 0 200 HOURS, PATROLS WERE ADVISED BY
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HAM POLICE THAT THE SUBJECT HAD JUST POINTED A FIREARM AT A RESIDENT AND LEFT LOCATION IN THE BLUE HONDA CIVIC WITH AN UNKNOWN VIRGINIA REGISTRATIONS HAM POLICE UPDATED OFFICERS THAT THE SUSPECT'S CELL PHONE WAS PINGING IN THE AREA OF HEMLINE ROAD AND MILL STREET.CORPORAL DII, OFFICER MEEKS, OFFICER HICKEY, OFFICER SIMS AND OFFICER FULMER ALL BEGAN AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE AREA FOR THE SUSPECT WHO WAS REPORTED TO BE ARMED.
CORPORAL MQ AT THE TIME, AND OFFICER COLLINS FROM THE BE LAKES POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALSO JOINED IN THE SEARCH TO ASSIST WITH LOCATING THE SUSPECT VEHICLE.
ULTIMATELY, OFFICER SIMS LOCATED THE SUSPECT VEHICLE ON ALLEN AVENUE NEAR HAYNES AVENUE.
OFFICER FULMAR ARRIVED ON LOCATION ALONG WITH OFFICER SIMS, AND MAINTAINED A TACTICAL POSITION ON THE VEHICLE AWAITING ADDITIONAL UNITS.
IT WAS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED WHEN CORPORAL DEI, CORPORAL MKE AND OFFICER COLLINS ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MAINTAINED A TACTICAL POSITION.
OFFICER MEEKS AND OFFICER HICKEY ARRIVED ON LOCATION FROM OPPOSING SIDES OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO OBSERVE WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE THE SUSPECT IN THE VEHICLE.
OFFICERS THEN BEGAN TO UTILIZE CLEAR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS TO REPOSITION UNITS TO ALLEVIATE ANY POTENTIAL CROSSFIRE AND GAIN A MORE TACTICAL ADVANTAGE OF POSITION OF COVER.
OFFICER MEEKS BEGAN TO MAKE VERBAL COMMANDS TO THE SUSPECT WHO INITIALLY WAS SLOW TO RESPOND.
AFTER CONTINUED CLEARING CONCISE COMMANDS, THE SUSPECT FINALLY COMPLIED OPENING THE DOOR, AND AS IT EXITING THE VEHICLE, OFFICER HICKEY OBSERVED A SUSPECT HAD A LARGE BULGE IN HIS PANT POCKET.
CONTINUOUS ORDERS WERE GIVEN TO THE SUSPECT WHO STILL WAS NOT FULLY COMPLIANT.
EVENTUALLY, THE SUSPECT WAS ORDERED TO GET ON THE GROUND AND COMPLY.
OFFICER COLLINS CORPORAL DII CONTACTED THE SUSPECT AND SUCCESSFULLY PLACED HIM INTO CUSTODY.
OFFICERS LOCATED A LOADED MAGAZINE IN HIS POCKET.
THE REMAINING OFFICERS CLEARED THE SUSPECT'S VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A LOADED HANDGUN ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AN AK 47 STYLE RIFLE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND FOUR FULLY LOADED MAGAZINES.
HAMM POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE AND TOOK CUSTODY OF THE SUSPECT.
IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY POLICE IN VIRGINIA HAD ADVISED THAT TWO DECEASED GUNSHOT VICTIMS WERE LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE SUSPECT'S HOUSE, THAT HE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE COMMITTED THE DOUBLE HOMICIDE.
IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE SUSPECT TRAVELED TO HAMM, UH, TO SEARCH FOR HIS ESTRANGED WIFE.
THE SUSPECT WAS CHARGED IN HAMM WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND MULTIPLE WEAPONS OFFENSES, AS WELL AS THE HOMICIDE CHARGES OUT OF VIRGINIA.
OFFICERS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE, DEDICATION TO DUTY SOUND TACTICS THAT BROUGHT UP POTENTIALLY VOLATILE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL, WHILE MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENTING ANY FURTHER VICTIMS FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
THE OFFICERS ARE AWARDED THE MERITORY SERVICE MEDAL SERGEANT GREG BLA ON MAY 5TH, 2024 AT 0 2 59 HOURS.
MORRISTOWN POLICE REQUESTED A K NINE FOR A TRACK RELATED TO THREE SUSPECTS WHO FLED FROM A STOLEN VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH.
THE SUSPECTS WERE ALSO IDENTIFIED AS ACTORS INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE VEHICLE BURGLARIES IN MOUNT LAUREL TOWNSHIP.
OFFICER BLA AND CANINE MUR RESPONDED TO LOCATION TO ASSIST AN E IN THE TRACK OF THE SUSPECTS.
UPON THE ARRIVAL OF OFFICER BLA AND CANINE MUR, A FEMALE SUSPECT RAN FROM THE BUS BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE ADJACENT TO THE CRASH AND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
THE TRACK WAS INITIATED WHERE K NINE MUR LED PATROLS TO TWO CELL PHONES IN A WOODEN AREA DROPPED BY THE SUSPECT WHILE FLEEING THE SCENE.
THE TRACK CONTINUED THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH MULTIPLE YARDS WHERE K NINE MUR ULTIMATELY LED PATROLS TO TWO INDIVIDUAL, TWO ADDITIONAL SUSPECTS HIDING IN THE WOODED AREA BEHIND A RESIDENCE LEADING TO THE ARREST AND IDENTIFICATION OF ALL THREE SUSPECTS INVOLVED OFFICER BL AND KINE MURPH SHOULD BE COMMENDED.
FURTHER QUICK RESPONSE, DEDICATION TO DUTY AND TRAINING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE APPREHENSION OF MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
OFFICER BLASH AND KINE MURPH ARE AWARDED THE CANINE SERVICE MEDAL
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OFFICER SEAN REARDEN, OFFICER SHANE SLATER, OFFICER PAUL CASTI, AND OFFICER DAVE MATTHEW ON JANUARY 23RD, 2024.AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 PM OFFICER SHOCKLEY OBSERVED A SUSPICIOUS, SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE IN THE REAR PARKING LOT OF THE POLICE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT THE PRECLUSION OF A SHIFT, AND RECOGNIZED THE VEHICLE AS BEING SUBJECT OF A RECENT POLICE INFORMATION BULLETIN FOR A MISSING SUICIDAL MALE.
THE SUSPECT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS RECKLESS DRIVING INCIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ON THAT DATE, INCLUDING AN LOOTING INCIDENT IN TON TOWNSHIP, WHERE THE SUSPECT REPORTEDLY ATTEMPTED TO RAM A POLICE, UH, PATROL VEHICLE.
FURTHER, OFFICER SHOCKLEY RECOGNIZED THE OPERATOR AS BEING A SUBJECT OF A RECENT DUI ARREST AND METRO TOWNSHIP, AND BASED ON THE CONTINUING COURSE OF CONDUCT, BELIEVE THE SUSPECT HAD ARRIVED AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE INTENT TO CAUSE HARM TO POLICE PERSONNEL AND POSSIBLY ELICIT A LETHAL RESPONSE BY POLICE OFFICER.
SHOCKNEY QUICKLY ESTABLISHED CONTROL OF THE INCIDENT AND MAINTAINED A TACTICAL OBSERVATION POSITION UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF ADDITIONAL PATROLS.
OFFICER COSTI, OFFICER REARDON, OFFICER MATTHEWS, AND OFFICER SNYDER RESPONDED AND COORDINATED TACTICAL APPROACH, UH, TO DEVELOPED TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT PATROLS ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE SUSPECT VEHICLE.
THE SUSPECT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK THE POLICE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT, RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF THE SUSPECT WERE SUCCESSFULLY FLEE THE SCENE, THE OFFICERS APPROACHED THE SUSPECT'S VEHICLE WHILE MAINTAINING LETHAL COVER AND FORCED ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE BY BREAKING THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, WHICH ULTIMATELY ENABLED PATROLS TO TO SUCCESSFULLY TAKE THE SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
THE OFFICERS QUICK AND DECISIVE ACTIONS UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND WITH SIGNIFICANT RISK HARM TO THEMSELVES RESULTED IN SUCCESSFUL APPREHENSION OF THE SUSPECT AND PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
OFFICER SHOCKLEY, OFFICER TU, OFFICER REARDEN AND OFFICER MATTHEWS AND OFFICER SEYER ARE SERGEANT ACADEMY.
SERGEANT BROBIE, BEGINNING OF THE FALL OF 2022, NUMEROUS PHYSICISTS IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP WERE TARGETED FOR LAR RECENT THEFTS AND CRIMINAL MISSIONS.
IN TOTAL, THERE WERE 23 INCIDENTS REPORTED WITH OVER $15,000 OF PROPERTY INSTALLMENTS AND $1,300 IN PROPERTY DAMAGE.
DETECTIVE ROGAN WAS ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENTS HE LOCATED AND PROCEED, UH, PROCESS NUMEROUS ITEMS OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL EVIDENCE.
THROUGH HIS INVESTIGATION, DETECTIVE ROBY WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY UNIQUE PATTERNS AND MO OPERANDI REGARDING THESE CRIMES.
ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 0 2 2 29 HOURS, CORPORAL MCKENNEY WAS PROACTIVELY PATROLLING THE AREA, UH, IN WHICH THE INCIDENTS WERE OCCURRING AND OBSERVED A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED THE THREE SUBJECTS IN THE VEHICLE AS POSSIBLE SUSPECTS OF THE ABOVE MATCHING CRIMES.
DETECTIVE ROB RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND CONTINUED THE INVESTIGATION.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 14 MONTHS, DETECTIVE ROBBIE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS INTERVIEWS, SOUGHT AND OBTAINED NUMEROUS SEARCH WARRANTS AND COMMUNICATION DATA WARRANTS, AND NETWORKED WITH OTHER POLICE AGENCIES TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE SUSPECT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE INCIDENTS IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP AS WELL AS OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
THIS INCLUDE THE ANALYSIS OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF CELLULAR PHONE DATA IN AN EFFORT TO FURTHER IDENTIFY EACH SUSPECT'S PART IN THE CONSPIRACY.
AS A RE AS A RESULT OF THIS EXTENSION EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION, ONE SUBJECT WAS CHARGED WITH SIX COUNTS OF BURGLARY, 11 COUNTS OF THEFT, 13 COUNTS OF CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, ONE COUNT OF RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY, AND TWO COUNTS OF CRIMINAL ATTEMPT.
THE TWO ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS WERE CHARGED WITH RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY.
SERGEANT MCMI SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR HIS PRACTICAL APPROACH, OBSERVANCE OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE, AND ON SCENE INVESTIGATION.
DETECTIVE VY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR HIS INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS, TENACITY, AND ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY CLOSE A COMPLEX INVESTIGATION.
THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF SERGEANT MCKENNEY AND SERGEANT ROY FREE OF CRIMES TARGETING MATT NATASHA,
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BUSINESSES WERE SAW AND THE ACTORS WERE CHARGED ACCORDINGLY FOR THEIR EFFORTS.THESE OFFICERS ARE WARRANT CERTIFICATE OF MERIT.
ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 5 21 HOURS, OFFICER LANG WAS TRAVELING ON MAIN STREET IN A MARKED PATROL VEHICLE WHEN HE OBSERVED THE CHEVY MALIBU TRAVELING ON MAIN STREET, WHICH HE RECOGNIZED MATCHED DESCRIPTION OF THE VEHICLE LISTED IN A POLICE INFORMATION BULLETIN AT A NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE RED LINE S FOR A MISSING PERSON.
THE BULLETIN DESCRIBED A MISSING 75-YEAR-OLD FEMALE WHO HAD LEFT HER RE RESIDENCE IN HER VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 1ST, APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT SHE WAS CURRENTLY LOST TRYING TO FIND HER WAY BACK HOME, AND THAT SHE POSSIBLY SUF SUFFERS FROM DEMENTIA.
OFFICER LANG CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATIVE STOP BASED ON THIS INFORMATION AND SUCCESSFULLY LOCATED THE MISSING PERSON.
THE MISSING PERSON WAS ULTIMATELY TURNED OVER TO OFFICERS FROM NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE WHO REUNITED HER WITH HER FAMILY.
OFFICER LYON SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR HIS DEDICATION TO DUTY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLE FROM THE POLICE INFORMATION BULLETIN, RESULTING IN LOCATING IN DANGER, RELEVANT MISSING PERSON, AND ASSISTING WITH GETTING HER HOME SAFETY AND WITH OUR FAMILY FOR HIS ACTIONS.
ALSO LYING IS AWARD LETTER ACCOMMODATION.
CORPORAL DENNING, OFFICER LANNING, OFFICER COSTEW, OFFICER MCCUE ON MAY 19TH, 2024 AT 0 3 59 HOURS, CORPORAL DENNY, OFFICER TU, OFFICER LANG AND OFFICER MCHUGH RESPONDED TO A REPORTED A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS OF A VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY OF A RESIDENCE ON OFF DRIVE WHILE ROUTE.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE SUSPECTS ENTERED IN WHITE SEDAN AND BEGAN FLEEING SAP DOWN FROM A LINE ROAD.
THE SUSPECT VEHICLE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SHOPLIFTING AND THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN LUMBERTON AROUND 0 2 59 HOURS, OFFICER LANG LOCATED THE VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED SOUTH DOWN ON TAUNTON ROAD.
A SHORT VEHICLE PURSUIT WAS INITIATED BY OFFICER OF LAND, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TERMINATED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE HIGH RATE OF SPEED.
WHILE CONTINUED TO CANVAS THE AREA OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE, OFFICER LANG OBSERVED THE VEHICLE TURNING OFF THE CENTENNIAL DRIVE.
A SUBSEQUENT FELONY STOP WAS INITIATED ON GODS HILL ROAD.
OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO SAFELY IDENT, DETAINED THE FOUR OCCUPANTS OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT CONNECT RESPONDED AND ASSISTED OFFICERS ON THE SCENE.
IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUSPECTS HAD BURGLARIZED TWO VEHICLES ON DOCU DRIVE AND COMMITTED SHOPLIFTING IN LUMBERTON COUNTY.
AS A RESULT OF THIS APPREHENSION, LUMBERTON COUNTY POLICE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SUSPECT INVOLVED IN THE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT.
THE FOUR SUSPECTS WERE CHARGED WITH ALLUDING CONSPIRACY, COMMIT, BURGLARY, BURGLARY, AND CRIMINAL TRESPASS.
OFFICERS SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE APPLICATION OF THEIR EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS THAT BROUGHT A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THE ARREST OF SUBJECTS FOR THE MULTITUDE OF CRIMINAL OFFENSIVE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
THE OFFICERS ARE AWARDED LETTERS OF ACCOMMODATION.
OFFICER FRED HERE ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2024
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AT 1:56 PM HAM POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO A RESIDENCE ON CUFF CLEAN IN THEIR JURISDICTION FOR A PHYSICAL DOMESTIC BETWEEN TWO FEMALES IN THE RESIDENCE WITH REPORT OF ONE SUBJECT ARMED WITH A KNIFE.THE SUSPECT WITH THE KNIFE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE FLED THE RESIDENCE PRIOR TO HAM, ARRIVING ON LOCATION AND WAS BELIEVED TO STILL BE ARMED WITH A KNIFE AS SHE FLED INTO THE WOODED AREA IN THE AREA OF CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE INCIDENT INITIATED A LOCKDOWN OF CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL EVE.
SHAN TOWNSHIP POLICE REQUESTED A DRONE OPERATOR TO ASSIST WITH THE SEARCH OF THE SUSPECT.
OFFICER SHEAR AN FAA LICENSED DRONE OPERATOR WITHIN THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DRONE UNIT RESPONDED WITH THE MEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT DRONE TO ASSIST IN LOCATING THE SUSPECT.
WHILE HAM OFFICERS WERE ON SCENE SEARCHING THE AREA FOR THE SUSPECT, IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT A FEMALE SUSPECT WAS SUICIDAL AND WAS ALSO AWARE OF PATROL FOR SEARCHING FOR HER, AND WAS NOW HIDING.
OFFICER SHEAR DEPLOYED THE DRONE.
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE WHILE OPERATING THE DRONE CELL PHONE.
THINGS OF THE SUSPECT'S PHONE WERE BEING CONDUCTED BY HAM POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH SHIELDED A RADIUS OF 1000 FEET OF A POSSIBLE LOCATION OF THE SUSPECT.
OFFICER SHEAR UTILIZED THE CELLULAR COORDINATES ALONG WITH INFRARED TECHNOLOGY EQUIPPED WITHIN THE DRONE TO DETECT THE HEAT SIGNATURE IN THE TREE LINE.
OFFICER SHEAR COMMUNICATED TO BE RADIO TO EHAM OFFICERS IN THIS AREA OF HIS FINDINGS, WHICH APPEARED TO BE SOMEONE INTERMITTENTLY ATTEMPTING TO CONCEAL THEIR LOCATION AT TREE HOUSE IN THE WOODS BEHIND THE RESIDENCE.
OFFICER SHEAR MAINTAINED A VISUAL OF THE PROBABLE SUSPECT UNTIL EACH SHANNON OFFICERS ARRIVED AT THE TREE HOUSE, ULTIMATELY MADE CONTACT WITH THE SUSPECT, PLACING HER INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, LEADING TO A SAFE AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION.
OFFICER SHEARER SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR HIS QUICK RESPONSE, DEDICATION OF DUTY, SKILLED LEVEL, AND TRAINING A BROUGHT INCIDENT TO A SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION.
HER ACTIONS IS AWARDED LETTER ACCOMMODATION.
OKAY, THE THE LAST ONE, WORK FOR TONIGHT IS THE, UH, POLICE OFFICER HERE.
EACH YEAR, THE COMMAND STAFF NOMINATES THREE CANDIDATES THAT THEY BELIEVE ARE MOST WORTHY OF THE HONOR OF POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
A BALLOT IS THEN AUTHORED AND DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PERSONNEL WHO CAST A SINGLE VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE.
THEY BELIEVE THAT MEETS THE STANDARD OF POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
THE CANDIDATES HAVE DEMONSTRATED DEDICATION TO THE MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, ETHICS INITIATIVE, OUTSTANDING JOB PERFORMANCE, AND EXEMPLIFY THE PROFESSIONAL IDEALISM OF THE AGENCY.
DURING 2024, OFFICER SHOCKLEY WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PATROL BUREAU AND DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM IN HIS APPROACH TO HIS ASSIGNMENT AND TO HIS PEERS.
OFFICER SHOCKLEY ALSO EMBODIES THE AGENCY MOTTO OF INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AND FAIRNESS IN HOW HE DELIVERS LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY FOR HIS ACTIONS.
DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2024, OFFICER KEN SHOCKLEY IS AWARDED METFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE BALLOTS GO OUT PROBABLY TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS DATE.
OFFICER SHOCKLEY IS ON LOCATION IN NEW MEXICO, CURRENTLY TRAINED
UM, I FEEL LIKE I'M AT THE OSCARS.
UM, BUT HE, HE, I, I SPOKE TO HIM ON THE PHONE TODAY AND HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE HONOR AND IS THANKFUL FOR IT, SO WE APPRECIATE HIM.
UM, SO THAT WILL BE IT FOR THIS EVENING AS, AS I CLOSE TONIGHT, I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S CEREMONY.
UM, THERE'S AN OPEN INVITATION TO OTS ON STOKES ROAD FOR REFRESHMENTS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, UM, MY REMARKS, UH, IN ADDITION, I JUST WANNA TAKE ANOTHER MOMENT AND JUST THANK, UM, ALL THE SWORN PERSONNEL, CLERICAL STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS AS WE CONTINUE TO FA FACE THE, THE ONGOING CHALLENGES, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, GROWTH IN A, UH, TOWNSHIP LIKE THIS PRESENT AND THEY APPROACH IT EXCELLENT EVERY TIME.
THEY ARE TRULY PROFESSIONAL AND, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE 'EM.
UM, MAYOR ESTOCK TOWN COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR PRO PROVIDING US WITH THE TIME TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING IN.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE.
WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO, IN CASE YOU WANT TO TAKE A FEW PHOTOS, UH, AND IF THE ROOM WOULD LIKE TO SPEND SOME TIME, UH, ON THEIR WAY TO OX, FEEL FREE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING A MOMENT.
UH, WE HAVE ONE OTHER SPECIAL PRESENTATION
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TODAY THAT IS OUR ARBOR DAY PROCLAMATION.AND HERE TO RECEIVE THAT PROCLAMATION IS OUR CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
OLA GALLEY UP AND READ THAT TO YOU.
SO I WAS GIVEN THE DISTINCT HONOR OF READING THE PROCLAMATION TO AT LEAST, I APOLOGIZE.
THIS IS MY FIRST ONE, SO IT'S GONNA BE BAIL.
YOU'RE GONNA GET THE PAPER AFTERWARDS.
UM, SO THIS PROCLAMATION IS DECLARING ARBOR DAY ON APRIL 11TH, 2025, WHEREAS IN 1872, JAY STERLING NORTON PROPOSED TO THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE THAT A SPECIAL DAY WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR THE PLANTING OF TREES.
AND WHEREAS THIS HOLIDAY CALLED ARBOR DAY WAS FIRST OBSERVED WITH THE PLANTING OF MORE THAN 1 MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA.
AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS NOW SERVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD AS A SPECIAL DAY OF PLANTING TREES.
WHEREAS TREES INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, ENHANCE OUR BUSINESS AREAS, UNIFY OUR COMMUNITY, SERVE MANY ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL PURPOSES, AND OUR RENEWABLE SOURCES FOR PAPER, FUEL AND OTHER PRODUCTS.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, EAA TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HIGHLANDS GARDEN CLUB, THE MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MEDFORD LEE, AND OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, MEDFORD TOWNSHIP HAS DESIGNATED, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A TREE CITY USA FOR 46 CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT ACHIEVED ONLY BY THREE MIN MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL, THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD AND THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY THAT FRIDAY, APRIL 11TH, 2025 IS PRO FROM DESK HARBOR DAY IN MEDFORD AND RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLANT 300 TREES FROM THE MJ FOREST SERVICE NURSERY THAT WERE DONATED THROUGH THE EAAC AND SAPLINGS WERE PROVIDED TO THE STUDENTS BY THE HIGHLANDS GARDEN CLUB.
ALL HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM THE MJ DEP FORESTRY SERVICE.
AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT THE TOWN.
DO YOU WANT ME TO GO? IF YOU NEED TO? SO I JUST WANNA BRING UP THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE LAUNCHED THEIR QR CODE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THEM AROUND TOWN YET.
THEY'VE, THEY'RE IN OUR PARKS.
UM, SO IT'S CALLED DISCOVER MEDFORD.
SO VISITORS, WHEN THEY COME, THEY CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF THE QR CODE AND IT SHOWS YOU, UH, WHERE OUR RESTAURANTS ARE BREWERIES, ANTIQUE STORES.
UM, IT'S THERE, IT'S MULTIPLE PHASES AND WE'RE IN PHASE ONE NOW, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE ADDING TO IT AND UPDATING IT, I THINK QUARTERLY.
RIGHT, DANIEL? UM, BUT ANYWAY, KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR THIS.
IT'S, IT'S A, A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT IT'S REALLY GONNA BE AN ASSET TO THE TOWN AND THE BUSINESSES.
I HAVE TWO, UM, FOOD TRUCK NIGHT IS THURSDAY.
WEATHER LOOKS REAL GOOD, SO HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT THERE ON MAIN STREET.
UM, WE BEGUN THE MAIN STREET SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING WAS, FORGIVE ME, I DON'T RECALL.
THEY'RE ALL BLUR TOGETHER A MONTH AGO.
UM, WE HAVE A BREAKOUT MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT WITH JUST THE, UM, RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER PORTIONS OF THAT CLUB, I'M SORRY, OF THAT COMMITTEE.
AND THEN THE NEXT OFFICIAL MEETING IS ON THE SECOND, UM, DISCUSSION ITEMS ARE PARKING AT CRANBERRY HALL, UH, MAIN STREET PARKING, AS WELL AS SIDE STREET PARKING, AND THEN ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT HAVE COME UP THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
WELL, I JUST HAVE, UH, I HAVE TWO AS WELL.
SO ONE A, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO A SCOUT, UH, PATRICK SUTTON, WHO RECENTLY COMPLETED A GAZEBO IN FREEDOM PARK.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE SCOUTS AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
THAT WAS HIS, UH, SIGNIFICANT PROJECT FOR HIS EAGLE SCOUT,
[00:30:01]
UH, PURSUIT.SO WE THANK HIM FOR THAT AND CERTAINLY JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE AGAIN, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TONIGHT IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR US AS A TOWNSHIP.
SO WELL DONE TO CHIEF WATERMAN AND, UH, THE REST OF THE POLICE FORCE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO TO KEEP US SAFE EACH AND EVERY, UH, DAY HERE.
SO, SCHEDULING ITEMS REGARDING OUR UP UPCOMING SCHEDULE.
WE HAVE APRIL 1ST, 2025, A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING HERE AT SIX 30 AND APRIL 15TH, 2025.
A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING HERE AT 6:30 PM MOVING ON TO THE
[ V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES.COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND MARCH 4TH, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES, RIGHT? HEARING NONE.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES? SO MOVED.
THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AND WE HAVE ONE ITEM
[ VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS]
LISTED FOR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING, AND THAT IS OUR MAIN STREET PARKING REGARDING STRIPING.AND SO, DEPUTY MAYOR CIZIK AND COUNCILWOMAN MILK HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH OUR RESIDENTS ON MAIN STREET AND THEIR PARKING SUBCOMMITTEE AND ALONG WITH OUR TOWNSHIP PLANNER.
AND MR. HARWELL, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A NEW STRIPING PLAN FOR US THAT'S SET IN PLACE ONCE THE COUNTY COMPLETES THE PAVING THAT THEY'RE, THAT IS UPCOMING.
UM, AT THE DIRECTION OF, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN MILK, UH, I ASKED THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER TO HAVE HIS STAFF PREPARE A TENTATIVE STRIPING PLAN FOR MAIN STREET.
UM, I ASKED THEM TO TAKE A SPECIAL PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS AND BUILD A LITTLE MORE OF A BUFFER IN THERE SO THAT IF YOU KNOW CAR PARKS AND IT'S A HALF A FOOT OR A FOOT OVER, PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GET IN OUTTA THEIR DRIVEWAYS WHO LIVE ALONG, UM, MAIN STREET.
AND, UM, WE, WE STILL HAVE ONE MORE HALF A BLOCK OR SO TO ADD TO THIS PLAN, WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SHORTLY.
AND WITH COUNSEL'S CONSENSUS, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT TO THE COUNTY TO GET THEIR APPROVAL, UM, SO THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT AFTER THE MAIN STREET HAS BEEN REPAVED, WHICH GOD WILLING WILL TAKE PLACE THE THE WEEK OF MARCH 31ST.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, GOOD.
UM, SO, UM, THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONALS, WE'VE GOTTEN THE DRAFT OF THE STRIPING PLAN.
WE'RE HOPING TO PRESENT THAT TOMORROW TO THE BREAKAWAY MEETING OF SUB MAIN STREET SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THEIR INPUT AND APPROVAL.
THERE'S, AGAIN, A SECTION OF MAIN STREET THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED, UM, JUST FOR DRAFTING PURPOSES.
SO WE'LL PROVIDE A BLANK OF THAT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MORE WILL COME, BUT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THAT COMMITTEE'S INPUT IN HOW THESE PARKING SPOTS WILL LAY OUT AND HOPEFULLY, UM, ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON THE STREET, THE BUSINESSES, AND THEN PEOPLE VISITING.
SO, UH, I KNOW DANIEL AND OUR PROFESSIONALS HAVE, UM, TAKEN THE MINUTES FROM OUR MEETINGS AND DISCUSSED, UM, LOADING ZONES, UM, RIDESHARE DROP OFFS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DRIVEWAYS, PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS AND SUCH.
AND SOME LIKE 15 MINUTES SPOTS FOR TAKEOUT.
SO IF, IF, UM, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, WE'LL WAIT TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE AFTER IT'S PRESENTED AND, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
WE WILL ASK ERI TO SUBMIT IT TO THE COUNTY 'CAUSE THE COUNTY'S BLESSING AND THEN GET IT DONE.
DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY COUNCIL ACTION? NO.
JUST WAIT FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
SO IF POTENTIALLY AFTER THE FOUR TWO MEETING MM-HMM
THE APRIL 2ND MEETING WHERE WE ALL RECONVENE, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TENTATIVELY FINAL TO PRESENT.
I'LL, I'LL, I'LL BRING A, A, UH, UPDATED VERSION BACK FOR THAT MEETING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW
[ VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING, AND WE WOULD ASK THAT GENERAL DECORUM IS EXHIBITED, SO PLEASE BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.RECOGNIZING THAT MANY VETERANS HAVE 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 FOR US TO HONOR THEM.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE ON RECORD ORDINANCE THREE DASH 2020, WHICH CALLS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN PROPER CONDUCT AND TO AVOID DISTURBING THE PEACE OF THE MEETING.
THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO COMMENT PUBLICLY.
THIS IS NOT A TIME OF PUBLIC DEBATE.
WE MAY CHOOSE TO RESPOND AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC OPEN FORUM.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
YOU'LL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE, AND PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
AND AGAIN, COMMENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
AND SO, MR. PRIME, OR MR. HOEL, COULD YOU PLEASE TRACK THAT TIME? JUST, UH, JUST IN CASE? WILL DO.
DEPUTY ONE, I, I AM SO SORRY, I, MY PEN BROKE.
[00:35:04]
SORRY ABOUT THAT.MY NAME IS MELISSA STENBERG AND I LIVE AT 65 BAKER BOULEVARD IN MARTON.
I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES TO THE WEST OF HERE.
UM, MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE AND HER, AND I HOPE I DIDN'T UPSET ANYBODY WITH MY PRONOUNS.
IF I DID, THE REST OF THIS IS GONNA BLOW YOUR MIND.
UH, MOST OF MEDFORD, I'VE REALLY COME TO APPRECIATE THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE SHARE.
I, I, I REALLY LOVE FANTASTIC SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET, EVEN A GROUP HUB
AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE ALL HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THAT RIGHT HERE IN, IN THIS TOWN, AND THAT WE CAN ALL DO SO SAFELY.
THANK YOU TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AS SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, I'VE BEEN EXCHANGING SOME EMAILS WITH TOWNSHIP STAFF OVER THE PAST WEEK TO ASK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO EXTEND SUPPORT TO THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, MY COMMUNITY HERE IN MEDFORD BY ISSUING A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY ON THE 31ST OF MARCH, 2025.
UM, NO FLAGS, NOT NO PARADES, UM, NOTHING TO DO WITH A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING YET WE, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT.
UM, NO RALLIES, JUST A RESOLUTION AND SUCH.
A SIMPLE ACT CAN SAVE VOLUMES ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY.
AND MEDFORD TOWNSHIP CAN JOIN OTHER SOUTH JERSEY COMMUNITIES LIKE MOUNT LAUREL, WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, MORTON, MY HOMETOWN, MORRISTOWN, AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED ARE AND OR ISSUED SUCH A RESOLUTION.
FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY, IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL, UH, DAY CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON MARCH 31ST.
I'D LOVE TO SAY IT'S BEEN CELEBRATED FOREVER.
IT'S BEEN CELEBRATED SINCE 2009.
UH, BUT HEY, WE'RE GETTING STARTED.
IT GOT US, EVERYTHING STARTS SOMEWHERE.
AND IT'S INTENDED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE THAT WE FACE EVERY DAY, POTENTIALLY EVERY TIME WE INTERACT WITH OTHERS.
OUR GOALS IN CELEBRATING THIS DAY ARE SIMPLE.
WE CELEBRATE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF TRANS PEOPLE AND BECOME COMBAT TRANS PHOBIAS, TAKING BY AND ANTI-TRANS VIOLENCE, DISINFORMATION AND HATRED.
SO YOU MAY BE ASKING, WHAT DOES VISIBILITY EVEN MATTER? OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN AN ONSLAUGHT OF ANTI-TRANS PROPAGANDA.
WE'VE SEEN ABUSIVE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HEAT FILL PROPOSED LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL, AT, AT BOTH THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IN OTHER STATES.
AROUND OUR GREAT COUNTRY, WE'RE WI WITNESSING THE SYSTEMATIC REMOVAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS FROM PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO BE TRANSGENDER.
THESE, THESE LAWS, THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, SUCCEED IN CREATING HATE BECAUSE THE POPULATION OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IS SO SMALL.
FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT I MEET, I'M THE FIRST TRANS PERSON THEY'VE EVER INTERACTED WITH.
AND FOR MOST OF THAT GROUP, I'LL BE THE ONLY TRANS PERSON THEY EVER INTERACTED WITH.
THIS IS LIKELY TRUE FOR A LOT OF YOU HERE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT, MAYBE EVEN UP UPFRONT, UH, AMONGST THE ESTEEMED TOWN COUNCIL.
THIS IS HOW WE COMBAT HATRED AND BERY WITH VISIBILITY, WITH CIVIL DISCOURSE AND COMMUNITY.
IT MUST BE NOTED THAT I'M NOT STANDING HERE BY MYSELF TODAY.
THIS IS A GROUP EFFORT, UH, WITH MANY CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES LIKE THE UNITARIAN CHURCH OF CHERRY HILL CONGREGATION COLON, ME, UH, OUR FRIENDS FROM MEDFORD, UNITED METHODIST, UM, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER GROUPS, COOPER RIVER, INDIVISIBLE, LOCAL PRIDE ORGANIZATIONS, JFCS, WHERE I'M A BOARD MEMBER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE AFTER.
SO I ASK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TONIGHT, PLEASE STAND UP AGAINST HATE.
PLEASE STAND UP FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS AND MAKE A STATEMENT THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND SAFE IN MEDFORD TOWN.
PLEASE, BOTH OF US WON'T BE TOO.
I LIVE IN LONG SIDE ON, UH, TWO 18 HILLIARD T MOORE SENIOR AVENUE.
NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
IS IT MR. OR MS? THE ANSWER IS NEITHER.
[00:40:01]
MIX A COCKTAIL.I'M ONE OF THOSE NON-BINARY GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT.
AND UNLESS I SPECIFICALLY STATE MY GENDER OR LACK THEREOF, I AM COMPLETELY INVISIBLE.
WHERE TRANSGENDER CONVERSATIONS ARE CONCERNED, I'M SIMPLY ASSUMED TO BE A CIS WOMAN NO MATTER WHAT I DO OR WHAT I SAY.
SO WHY OUT MYSELF LIKE THIS IN A POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT MAY SEE ME SHUNNED OR PUNISHED FOR DOING SO? BECAUSE I ASSURE YOU THAT YOU HAVE RESIDENTS JUST LIKE ME THAT VISIBILITY MATTERS.
I LIKE MY COLLEAGUE MELISSA, REPRESENT MOVEMENT MADE UP OF CHURCHES LIKE THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF CHERRY HILL, WHERE I'M A MEMBER AND CO RUN THEIR PRIDE SUPPORT ALLIANCE CONGREGATION, ME, MEDFORD, UNITED METHODIST, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JFCS AND COOPER RIVER, INDIVISIBLE, TO ASK THIS COUNCIL TO EXTEND SUPPORT TO ITS TRANSGENDER RESIDENCE BY ISSUING A PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING TRANSGENDER DAY VISIBILITY.
ON MARCH 31ST, UM, LAST NIGHT, I ACTUALLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE PRESENT AT MEDFORD'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WHERE I WITNESSED A DOZEN OR MORE RESIDENTS OF MEDFORD AND PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS IN MEDFORD SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A POLICY THAT NURTURES AND PROTECTS TRANS STUDENTS.
I'M SIMPLY ASKING THAT THIS LEVEL OF CARE BE APPLIED TO TRANS ADULTS LIVING IN MEDFORD AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE SCHOOL AGE.
ISSUING A PROCLAMATION WILL SHOW THAT HATE HAS NO PLACE IN NEW JERSEY AND DEMONSTRATE THE RESILIENCE, SUPPORT, AND JOY OF TRANS FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD ALSO UNITE THIS MUNICIPALITY WITH OTHERS IN CAMDEN, BURLINGTON, AND GLOUCESTER COUNTIES WHO HAVE ALREADY ISSUED SOME PROCLAMATIONS OR WILL LATER THIS MONTH.
IT'S INCREASINGLY LIKELY THAT FEDERAL RECOGNITION OF TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY WILL BE REVOKED AS THEY HAD ANNOUNCED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH BACK IN FEBRUARY.
IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND INCLUDE OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, COWORKERS, AND THAT ONE PERSON THAT WAITED ON US IN THE STORE, BUT WE DIDN'T NOTICE THEIR PRONOUN HIM AND JUST ASSUMED THEIR GENDER, WE HAVE TO DO IT AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME'S JOHN VENTI, 1 1 5 PARK THERE, EAST
I WAS HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, ROADS, THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS IN, UH, LAKE PINE.
UM, SINCE THEN I'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. CLE AND HE ASKED ME TO GET HIM SOME EXAMPLES.
I'D LIKE TO, IF YOU MAY APPROACH PLEASE.
ANYWAYS, YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE ROADS ARE IN POOR CONDITION.
AND JUST LAST WEEK, UH, A NEIGHBOR ON THE OTHER QUOTE, UH, PARK COURT WEST, HE TOOK A SPELL AND IT REQUIRED DMTS TO ASSIST HIM TO GET UP.
THAT'S HOW BAD THE, THE ROAD IS IN THAT PART OF, UH, PARK COURT WEST.
UH, SINCE LAST, UH, MEETING THAT I WAS HERE, I FOUND OUT THAT MY NEIGHBOR, BARBARA GARDENER, HAS BEEN IN TOUCH GOING BACK, UH, TILL 2019.
SHE, UH, SHE SENT SOME EMAILS TO, UH, LET'S SEE, RICHARD PARKS.
I'LL JUST READ A COUPLE OF THEM TO YOU.
THIS IS FROM, UH, MR. PARKS TO MS. GARDNER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWING THAT.
THIS IS DATED, UH, AUGUST OF 2021.
FOREST AVENUE WAS ON THE LIST TO BE REPAID AS PART OF THE 2019 ROAD PROGRAM.
THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE DISCUSSING THE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE 2022 CAPITAL BUDGET IN THE COMING MONTHS.
ONCE WE HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS, FAR AS I WILL LET YOU KNOW, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY AND APPRECIATE THEN.
THERE WAS A FOLLOW UP FROM, UH, BARBARA ON 2022.
HAS THE WATER MAIN, UH, REPLACEMENT, UH, BEEN COMPLETED? LET'S SEE.
AT FOREST AVENUE CONTINUES TO DEGRADE FARTHER.
A FRIEND OF MINE DURING THE WALK SAID TO ME, WHAT IS WRONG WITH WITH YOUR ROOTS? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE UPDATE.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE WITH THE, UH,
[00:45:03]
MARCH 6TH, 2024.UM, I GUESS SHE SENT AN EMAIL TO, UH, RONNIE FOWLER, AND THAT'S WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT MR. PARKS RETIRED.
ALL TOO OFTEN, THIS IS WHAT WE SEE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
THINGS JUST GO ON AND ON AND NOTHING GETS DONE.
PEOPLE RETIRE AND THEN NEW PEOPLE COME IN.
YOU GOTTA START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.
UH, SO SINCE I WAS HERE, UH, A MONTH AGO, I'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. HORMEL AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE PLAN IS TO INVEST IN SOME EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING TO DO THE WATER, UH, WATER MEETINGS.
NOW, I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE THE SEWERS ALSO.
AND I STARTED THINKING MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, UH, HERE, HERE WE GO.
IF WE GOT A, WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING THE, THE BUDGET PUT TOGETHER AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING.
I MEAN, IS THIS GOING TO BE DONE IN MY LIFETIME? REALLY? SO, AND YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC SECTOR MOST OF MY TIME WAS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOING CONTRACTING.
AND, UH, THE EXPERIENCE I HAD IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND I APPRECIATE MR. HARPLE, UH, HIS, UH, ATTEMPTS TO, YOU KNOW, DO THINGS IN HOUSE, BUT IT GETS TO A POINT WHERE IT'S OVER AND ABOVE WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND YOU JUST GOTTA LEAVE IT TO A CONTRACTOR.
UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT I'VE BEEN A HOMEOWNER FOR OVER 60 YEARS AND I KNOW WHEN I'M MOVING MY HEAD AND THAT'S WHEN I CALL A, A, A CONTRACTOR.
AND SO, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMETHING GETTING DONE, GETTING A BUDGET PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S TERRIBLE.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS SCOTT FARRELL.
I LIVE IN LAKE PINE AT 2 0 1 FOREST AVE.
UM, I JUST CAME TO SUPPORT, UH, MR. VENTI.
THE, UH, I'VE BEEN IN THE, I GREW UP IN MEDFORD, UM, BUT I MOVED TO LAKE PINE IN 2019.
SO, UH, I SERVE ON, ON THE BOARD THERE.
I PLAN THE, THE, THE EVENTS THERE.
UM, AND I JUST DEAL, YOU KNOW, TALK TO A LOT OF NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND FEEDBACK HAS BEEN ABOUT THESE ROADS BEING A PROBLEM.
UM, HE'S SHOWN YOU THE PICTURES.
UM, ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND, WE DO A, UM, A TURKEY TROT RACE.
UH, THANK IN THANKSGIVING EVE, AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE THIRD YEAR THAT WE'VE DONE IT.
UM, ALMOST EVERY YEAR A KID WILL TRIP AND FALL AND ONE OF THOSE POTHOLES AND SCRAPE UP THEIR KNEE AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT, THEY FALL OFF THEIR BIKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU HAVE TO DO WATER MAINS OR SEWER MAINS FIRST.
UM, SO I GUESS IF WE COULD GET THAT GOING ALONG SO WE COULD HAVE, UH, SMOOTH ROADS.
MY MOM JUST MOVED IN ON LAKEWOOD AVE AND, UH, HER ROAD, IT WAS A MESS.
AND NOW IT'S A SMOOTH, YOU KNOW, GREAT SURFACE.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
AND IF WE COULD JUST GET, UH, THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TAKEN CARE OF, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF LAKE PINE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
UH, MR. VENTI, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE CAPABILITY, BUT ANYTIME THAT PICTURES ARE SHOWN TO THE GOVERNING BODY, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A COPY.
SO I SENT 'EM TO OH, YOU HAVE 'EM? I DO.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAD ON THE RECORD.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR HER? YEAH, I WAS IN TROUBLE.
I LIVE AT 2 3 1 MEDFORD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD, AND I STARTED COMING TO MEETINGS IN, UH, JANUARY.
I THOUGHT THIS IS, UH, MY NEW HOBBY
SO THE FIRST, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M GETTING UP TO SPEAK, SO WHATEVER.
FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS FREEDOM PARK.
IS THE PARK, IS MEDFORD TOWNSHIP THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FREEDOM PARK? YES.
SO THERE'S TWO THINGS I JUST WANNA MENTION.
THE LAST FLAG POLE THAT WAS PUT UP, IT WAS IN THE FALL.
I THINK IT'S GOT THE MEDFORD FLAG ON IT.
WHOEVER PUT IT UP, THEY NEVER FINISHED BECAUSE THERE'S STILL BLUE TARP WITH A PILE OF DIRT SITTING ON IT.
AND I JUST, IT, IT JUST IS SLOPPY LOOKING.
[00:50:01]
PEOPLE WOULDN'T ACCEPT THAT A CONTRACTOR THROW 'EM HOME TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.THE SECOND THING IS THERE IS A SHED OVER, LIKE GOING TOWARDS THE, UM, PLAYING FIELD BY THE PICKLEBALL PORT.
AND THERE'S AN A ED BOX ON IT AND A BIG SIGN THAT SAYS A ED, THAT'S THE PORTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR.
THAT HAS BEEN EMPTY SINCE LAST FALL.
I WROTE A EMAIL AND I, UM, YOU KNOW, MENTIONING IT THAT IT WAS, UM, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO STILL HAVE THE SIGN, SAY A ED, AND NOT HAVE IT THERE.
IT'S A, YOU KNOW, A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
AND, UM, I GOT A, UH, EMAIL FROM, UH, IT WAS BETH, I, I CAN'T SAY THE LAST NAME.
BUT THE EMAIL ACTUALLY SAYS, UM, CAN YOU JUST READ IT? MY PICTURE? I HAVE, IT SAYS THE SMALL SHED IS OWNED BY THE MYAA AND USED FOR BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
UM, AND SO IS THE DEFIBRILLATOR, BOTH MYAA AND THE TOWNSHIP ARE AWARE THAT DFI IS NOT THERE AS WE'RE AWAITING THE DELIVERY OF NEW BATTERIES AND PADS.
IT SHOULD BE REPLACED VERY SHORTLY, BUT THAT WAS OCTOBER 28TH.
NOW, YOU CAN SAY THERE AREN'T KIDS PLAYING RIGHT NOW IN THE FIELD, BUT IT'S RIGHT DOWN THE STREET OR THE, THE PATH FROM THE, UM, PICKLEBALL COURT.
AND TO MY WAY OF THINKING, HAVING THAT SIGN SAYING A ED, THAT'S GIVING SOMEBODY FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, THAT SOMETHING IS THERE.
LIKE YOU'VE, IN YOUR TRAVELS, YOU'VE SEEN WHERE THERE'S, UH, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS THAT ARE COVERED UP OR NOT.
THE, THE HYDRANTS, THEY'RE COVERED UP BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT OF SERVICE.
THAT SHOULD BE MARKED AS OUT OF SERVICE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE SITTING THERE AND HAVE SOMEBODY COME RUNNING THINKING THAT THEY'RE GONNA DEFIBRILLATE SOMEBODY.
AND, UH, IT'S LIKE, OH, DARN, IT'S NOT THERE.
SO I THINK THE, EVEN IF IT'S OWNED BY MYAA, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE TOWNSHIP.
SO I WAS JUST THINKING YOU MIGHT WANNA ADDRESS THAT.
MAY, I MAY, UM, UH, JUST, JUST TO YOUR POINT, UM, I ACTUALLY SERVE ON THE MYA BOARD AS WELL AS A SOFTBALL COMMISSIONER.
BUT I KNOW, UM, THE TOWNSHIP PROFESSIONALS AND NYA HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE A ED LOCATIONS, NOT ONLY IN FREEDOM PARK, BUT ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPAL PARKS THAT ARE SHARED BY NYA AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON FINALIZING ALL THE A ED LOCATIONS.
BUT IF, IF IT'S EMPTY, THE BOX IS EMPTY, IT'S BEEN TAKEN OUT BECAUSE OF BATTERIES, YOU SHOULD COVER UP THE SIGNS, NOT LET PEOPLE SEE THE, OH, OH, SOMEBODY'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
LET ME GO GET A DEFIBRILLATOR.
IT'S THE LITTLE SHED RIGHT BY, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
THE PICKLEBALL COURT, YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IT'S EMPTY.
I WALK EVERY DAY AND I USED TO SEE IT THERE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED IT WAS EMPTY.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHY I RODE TO THE TOWNSHIP.
CAN YOU GOZA UH, PINE BOULEVARD.
I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE LAKE PINE, UH, PINE BOULEVARD.
IF YOU THINK THAT WHEN THEY DO THIS, THE WATER MAIN IS GONNA HELP THE ROAD, IT DOESN'T.
THEY PAVED, THEY REPLACE THE WATER MAIN ON PINE, GOSH, FIVE YEARS AGO MAYBE.
AND THEY JUST KIND OF TAKE OUT HALF THE ROAD AND PAVE IT.
SO ALL OF OUR DRIVEWAYS ARE HALF TORN UP AND PATCHED AND THEY'RE SINKING.
SO THEY DIDN'T COME BACK AND REP PAVE THE WHOLE ROAD AFTER THEY REPLACE THE WATER MAIN.
IT ACTUALLY MADE IT A LOT WORSE.
JUST SO IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE DOESN'T GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE OTHER.
IF THEY REPLACE THE WATER MAIN, IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GONNA PAVE THE WHOLE ROAD.
UH, EARL STO 26 FOSTER TOWN ROAD.
UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, CHIEF DOBY MEDFORD TAB FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING ME WITH A, UM, FLAG AND A FLAG POLE AT THE
THERE'S ONLY ONE ROUND PER, UH, PUBLIC.
[00:55:02]
IF, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND ALLOW A SECOND ROUND, THAT'S THAT.A PICTURE IS THAT I, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS PICTURE.
YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO COME UP THOUGH, SIR.
THIS CONE HAS BEEN IN PLACE EIGHT YEARS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF FOREST AND PARK COURT.
ANY ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? ALRIGHT.
SEEING NONE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT? SO MOVED.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED MANAGER'S
[ VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]
REPORT.MR. MARK, THANK YOU, UH, TONIGHT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WE HAVE, UH, TWO NEW VOLUNTEER MEMBERS WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD, UM, MICHAEL VINCENT ROSATI TO OUR ROSTER AS A JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER AT STATION 2 52.
AND WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD CARTER ANTHONY RADIKO AS A JUNIOR EMS VOLUNTEER MEMBER TO STATION 2 58.
UH, A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. THE SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR ON A WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED.
ANGELA WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE AND THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE WE SHOULD BE LIVE, UM, BY APRIL 1ST ON THE, UH, RENTAL RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR OUR FACILITIES AND PAVILIONS.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT FREEDOM PARKS IS SPONSORING AN EVENT AT FREEDOM PARK.
THE DOG, THE DOG PARK ON MARCH 29TH, THEY'RE HAVING A CANINE VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION.
SO THAT IS ON MARCH 29TH AT FREEDOM PARK WITH FREEDOM PARKS.
AND THEN, UH, A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMENTS.
UM, MAIN STREET IS IN, IN THE VICINITY OF THE HISTORIC VILLAGE WHERE THE SOUTH JERSEY GAS HAD DONE SOME, UM, MAIN UPGRADES.
THE REPAVING IS STARTING NEXT WEEK, SHOULD TAKE TWO WEEKS TO GET THAT DONE.
AND HIMALAYA ROAD WILL BE CLOSING AT THE END OF THE MONTH FOR 60 DAYS FOR THE SEWER MAIN PROJECT.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, IT WAS VERY GOOD TO SEE THE POLICE AWARDS TONIGHT.
UM, LITTLE, LITTLE PROP THERE.
MY NEPHEW, UH, OVER IN MEDFORD LAKES WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THERE AS THE CHIEF.
IT WAS GOOD TO SEE OUR AGENCY RECOGNIZING, UH, NOT ONLY THE, UH, OUTSTANDING EFFORTS BY OUR OWN PERSONNEL, BUT OUR, OUR, UH, TEAMWORK, UM, IN THE BOROUGH TOO.
AND JUST TO POINT OUT THAT ROAD CLOSURE IS DUE SIMPLY TO THE DEPTH OF THE EXCAVATION THAT'S REQUIRED TO REPLACE THAT WATER MAINTENANCE.
IT'S GONNA BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, RIGHT MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND IT'S ABOUT 17 FEET DEEP AT ITS DEEPEST POINT.
SO WE RECOGNIZE IT IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO THE TOWN OF, UH, CERTAINLY THE ENTIRE TOWN.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
IT WILL BE SOME TIME WITH THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUR VOLUNTEERS.
AND SO CHIEF DOVEY, CAN YOU PLEASE EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION? UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS? ALRIGHT.
OPPOSED? OUR NEW FIREFIGHTERS ARE APPROVED.
[ IX. CLERK’S REPORT]
CLERK'S REPORT PLEASE? YES.SO WE HAVE, UM, THE APPROVAL OF ST.
PETER'S FOR 50 50 AND A BASKET OF MAY 2ND.
MARY'S AND LAKES PTA RAFFLES FOR BASKET RAFFLE ON APRIL 12TH.
UM, LIONS CLUB RAFFLE LICENSE FOR BASKET RAFFLE AT S MARKET ON MAY 3RD.
APPROVAL OF COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER, RAFFLE 50 50 AND BASKET ON MAY 3RD, AND THE FUNERAL OF A SOCIAL AFFAIR FOR COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER MAY 3RD FOR THEIR KENTUCKY DERBY FUNDRAISER.
[ X. BILL LIST]
WE HAVE ONE BILL AS TO ACCEPT FOR MARCH 13TH, 2025.I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AND MAKE A MOTION.
[ XI. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION]
ONE ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING AND ONE THAT WE'LL SPEAK OF IN A SECOND.SO WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SEVEN? MM-HMM
COUNSEL, INTRODUCE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SEVEN AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP CODE CHAPTER DR DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS CONCERNING STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL GARAGES AND SHEDS.
DO, DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
UH, THIS ORDINANCE ADDRESSES SETBACK SIZES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR GARAGES AND SHEDS.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON APRIL 20, I'M SORRY, APRIL 1ST, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ORDINANCE? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
[01:00:01]
AYE.WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2025 DASH EIGHT AND TAYLOR, I WOULD LOVE A LITTLE ASSISTANCE ON THIS.
UH, MAYOR AND C UH, COUNSEL, UM, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TABLE, UH, A MOTION, UH, WOULD BE IN ORDER TO TABLE ORDINANCE 2025 DASH EIGHT.
UH, THEIR TOWNSHIP IS CONSIDERING RESTRICTIONS ON THE, UH, CRANBERRY HALL PARKING LOT WHERE THE SENIORS CENTER IS.
UM, I BELIEVE THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S MEETING IN TOMORROW.
WE NEED SOME MORE INPUT AND CLARIFICATION ON EXACTLY WHAT SPACES ARE INVOLVED IN THE HOURS.
UH, AND RATHER THAN INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE, HAVE TO AMEND IT AND REINTRODUCE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING.
I'M ASKING YOU TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE SO WE CAN GET IT IN FINAL FORM WHERE WE CAN EITHER LIST IT FOR DISCUSSION IN APRIL 1ST AND THEN INTRODUCE IT.
OR JUST INTRODUCE IT IF THE FORMAT IS, IS DONE AT THAT TIME.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ORDINANCE? SO SECOND.
ALRIGHT, THAT ORDINANCE IS TABLED.
[ XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S) ]
HAVE TWO ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING.WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH FIVE? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH FIVE AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE 2 0 0 2 DASH 30 FOR ESTABLISHING A LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS FOR FIREFIGHTING AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
WE HIGHLY VALUE OUR VOLUNTEERS IN THIS ORDINANCE.
WE HIGHLY VALUE OUR VOLUNTEERS.
UH, AND THIS ORDINANCE UPDATES THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS CREDITED FOR POINTS EARNED TO MEET THE CURRENT STATE APPROVED AWARD INCREASES AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND ALSO CLARIFIES THE REQUIREMENTS TO THE, TO BE VESTED IN THE PROGRAM.
AND SO WE WILL NOW OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL YOU UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
UH, SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
ANY COUNSEL COMMENTS? ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION PLEASE.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH SIX? I MOVE THE COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING, READING ORDINANCE 25 20 25 DASH SIX AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE, SECTION 62 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS. SECOND.
UH, THIS ORDINANCE ADDRESSES PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS INCLUDING MAILBOXES BELOW THE TOWNSHIP'S $1,000 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE.
SO WE'LL OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE? IF SO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'LL CALL YOU TO THE MICROPHONE.
SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
ANY COUNCIL COMMENT? PHONE CALL FOR ADOPTION MS. MILL.
DEPUTY MAYOR AYE MAYOR AYE THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED REGARDING
[ XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS]
CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.WE HAVE RESOLUTION 58 DASH 2025 APPOINTMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT RESOLUTION 59 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO PACE LABORATORIES INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $15,898 FOR LABORATORY TESTING SERVICES FOR THE WASTEWATER UTILITY RESOLUTION.
60 DASH 2025 AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR LAWN CARE SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $115,000 TO MERIT SERVICE SOLUTIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES RESOLUTION 61 20 25 AMENDING THE 2025 TEMPORARY BUDGET RESOLUTION 62 20 25 AFFIRMING EMERGENCY INTERCONNECTION AND WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH HAMM TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY RESOLUTION 63 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF VERIZON TAX APPEALS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS? SO MOVED.
SECOND ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL.
AYE WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS EVENING.
[XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
WE DO HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION.E ES 0 3 1 8 DASH 2025 MATTERS RELATING TO ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND ANTICIPATED OR THREATENED TO LITIGATION NJS.
A TEN FOUR DASH SEVEN AND PERSONNEL NJS A TEN FOUR DASH EIGHT WOULD LIKE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? MOVED.
WE'RE GONNA BE IN OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ABOUT HOW LONG DO YOU
[01:05:01]
THINK? UH, 20 MINUTES.YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY IN THE ROOM.
WE'LL COME BACK AND CONCLUDE THE MEETING.
AT THAT TIME, ACTION MAY BE TAKEN.
RIGHT? WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ACTION.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THIS TONIGHT, BUT IT CAN BE TAKEN.
I RECONVENED THE OPEN PORTION OF THE MEETING.
WE DISCUSSED THE ITEMS ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
SO WE'D LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEETING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SECOND.
OPPOSED? THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.