May 20, 2025 Township Council

YOU'RE

[00:00:01]

ALRIGHT,

[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]

PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT.

THIS MEETING IS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.

THIS MEETING OF MAY 20TH, 2025 WAS INCLUDED IN A MEETING NOTICE SENT TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES AND THE CENTRAL RECORD ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2024, AND ADVERTISED AND SAID NEWSPAPERS ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2024 AND DECEMBER 26TH, 2024, RESPECTIVELY POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND ON THE BOLTON BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2024, AND HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY POSTED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE STA STATUTE.

IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.

PLEASE WRITE FOR THE FLAGS

[II. FLAG SALUTE ]

OKAY.

ROLL CALL PLEASE,

[III. ROLL CALL]

NOT HERE.

MS. SIMON.

HERE.

MR. WATSON.

HERE AT THE MAYOR C HERE, MAYOR .

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO

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

UH, WE HAVE ONE VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

UM, WE HAVE, WE VALUE OUR, OUR EMS AND VOLUNTEERS AND, UH, COUNCILMAN WATSON, UH, WILL BE READING A PROCLAMATION FOR THEM ON THE FLOOR.

OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA PRESENT IT TO, UH, CHIEF, CORRECT? CORRECT.

AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR SAID, VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY THE VOLUNTEERS THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, UH, ARE THE EMS VOLUNTEERS.

SO WE THANK YOU AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE FULL-TIME PEOPLE FOLLOWING DUE.

SO THERE'S A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING EMS WEEK, WHICH IS MAY 18TH TO MAY 24TH, 2025.

WHEREAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD RECOGNIZES EMS AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE, WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TEAMS ARE READY TO PROVIDE LIFESAVING CARE TO THOSE IN NEED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND WHEREAS ACCESS TO QUALITY EMERGENCY CARE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY RATE OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ILLNESS OR INJURY.

AND WHEREAS MEDICAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FILL GAPS BY PROVIDING I IMPORTANT OUT OF HOSPITAL CARE, INCLUDING PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE, FOLLOW UP CARE AND ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE.

AND WHEREAS THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM CONSISTS OF FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, PARAMEDICS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, PRE-HOSPITAL NURSES, EMERGENCY NURSES, EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, TRAINED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER OUT OF HOSPITAL MEDICAL CARE PROVIDERS.

AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TEAMS, WHETHER CAREER OR VOLUNTEER, ENGAGE IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO ENHANCE THEIR LIFESAVING SKILLS.

AND WHEREAS IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS BY DESIGNATING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.

NOW, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED, THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL, MEDFORD NEW JERSEY, IN RECOGNITION OF THIS EVENT TO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 18TH, 24TH, 2025 AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.

WHEN WE WISH TO RECOGNIZE THAT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE RECOGNIZE ALL THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS OF MEDFORD FIRE AND EMS WHO CONTINUE TO DEDICATE THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.

WITH THIS BEING THE 51ST, 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF EMS WEEK, WE CARE FOR EVERYONE.

THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE THIS WEEK WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAM CEREMONIES AND ACTIVITIES PRESENTED MAY 20TH, 2025 WITH THE METFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL.

[00:05:03]

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS.

ANYONE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS? I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE, UH, EMS FOR HOSTING THEIR OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND.

UM, THAT'S A GREAT EVENT FOR THE FAMILIES O OF MEDFORD.

UM, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO SCHEDULING ITEMS. UM, OKAY.

SO SCHEDULING ITEMS REGARDING OUR UPCOMING SCHEDULE.

WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

JUNE 3RD, 2025 WILL BE A SPECIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30 AND JUNE 17TH WILL BE OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30.

OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL

[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE HAVE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 6TH, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING AND THE MAY 6TH, 2025 EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING.

UH, MAY HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR A.

ALRIGHT.

MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED.

DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO ITEMS LISTED FOR DISCUSSION TODAY.

WE WILL MOVE ON

[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

UM, SO WE'LL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

AS ALWAYS, WE ASK THAT WE MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES AMERICAS TRULY SPECIAL IS THIS RIGHT, THE ABILITY FOR CITIZENS TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

IT'S A RIGHT MANY AROUND THE WORLD ONLY DREAM OF, AND IT EXISTS BECAUSE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE FOUGHT TO PROTECT IT.

VETERANS HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES AND MANY CONTINUE TO SERVE TODAY TO DEFINE THE FREEDOMS WE EXERCISE IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS, HONORING EACH OTHER DURING THIS TIME IS ONE SMALL WAY TO HONOR THEM.

UM, I WOULD ALSO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE ORDINANCE 2020 DASH THREE CALLS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN PROPER CONDUCT AND TO AVOID DISTURBING THE PIECE OF THE MEETING.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, OKAY.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COME UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR, FOR, UM, WE'RE GONNA LIMIT THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO FIVE MINUTES PER PERSON.

OH, YEAH.

WE'LL BE SURE.

AND I'LL ASK THAT.

MR. PRIME, KEEP TIME, OR MR. HOR? YEP.

THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS JIM AL, I FROM HOPEWELL ROAD IN MEDFORD.

UM, I'M HERE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT AN ISSUE FOR FINANCE PRESERVATION RIGHT NOW.

UM, I'M ENGAGED IN A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH A NEIGHBOR DISPUTE, UH, WITH BAMBOO ON THE PROPERTY, UH, THEIR PROPERTY.

I I HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH THIS.

NUMBER ONE, UM, THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE VIOLATION THAT THE TOWNSHIP SENT TO HER IN 2018.

IT WAS NEVER FOLLOWED UP ON.

UM, AS A RESULT, THE BAMBOO HAS ENCROACHED MY PROPERTY NOW.

I LOST SEVEN TREES.

I HAD TO CUT DOWN 80-YEAR-OLD OAK TREES TO DIG UP THE BAMBOO ROOT.

UH, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF EVERYTHING, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S SPREADING TO FOUR PROPERTIES IN MY AREA.

IT'S, WE HAVE A COMPLAINT FROM THE NEIGHBOR TO THE RIGHT OF 42 WESTLAKE DRIVE.

IT IS ENCROACHING MY NEIGHBOR TO THE RIGHT IN THEIR BACKYARD AND IT ENCROACHED MY YARD OVER 800 SQUARE FEET.

I HAD TO DIG UP 50 TO 80 STALKS, 30 INCHES DEEP, AND I LOST ALL THE TREES.

UM, I'D LIKE SOMEONE TO FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS REMEDIATED.

THERE IS 80% OF THE PROPERTY BEHIND ME HAS BAMBOO ON IT.

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN 2018.

IN MY OPINION, NOBODY FROM THE TOWNSHIP FOLLOWED UP ON IT.

AND I'D LIKE TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT THIS PROCESS FOR ENFORCING ORDINANCES SHOULD BE UPHELD.

UH, IF THAT HAD BEEN DONE SEVEN YEARS AGO, I WOULDN'T BE IN A FIGHT.

NOW I'M FIGHTING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

I HAVE TO DO A CIVIL SUIT NOW FOR MY DAMAGES ON MY PROPERTY, IT'S THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REMEDIATE THE BAMBOO THOUSANDS.

UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES I WANNA RAISE IS, UH, THE FACT THAT THE TOWNSHIP IN THEIR RECENT LETTER TO, UH, THE ADDRESS STATED IN THE LETTER, DON'T CUT THE BAMBOO AND ACCELERATES AND PROMOTES THE GROWTH.

I HAVE VIDEO.

WHAT DID SHE DO AFTERWARDS? SHE CUT THE BAMBOO AGAIN.

SHE'S ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH.

SHE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVEN YEARS AND IT'S ON FOUR PROPERTIES NOW.

ON THE PINE LANDS.

I'VE NOTIFIED THE PINE LANDS COMMISSION ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

I'D LIKE THE TOWNSHIP TO FOLLOW UP, GET ON THE PROPERTY, UM, AND REMEDIATE THE BAMBOO SHIP BEFORE MY WHOLE PROPERTY HAS TO BE DUG UP AND PUT A REMEDIATE BARRIER, WHICH HAS TO BE DUG FOUR FEET DOWN AND PLASTIC OR METAL INSERTED ALL THE WAY AROUND MY FENCE.

PROPERTY LINE ON TWO LINES, THREE TO 400 FEET OF FENCE PROPERTY.

SO, UM, I'VE SENT MY LETTERS IN.

THE TOWNSHIP HAS DONE THAT, BUT I'D LIKE SOME FOLLOW UP ON THIS.

I'D LIKE THE TOWNSHIP TO GO IN AND START DIGGING UP THE BAMBOO AND STOPPING THIS.

[00:10:01]

AND I JUST DUG IT UP.

IT'S A BEEN MOVING AT 10 TO 15 FEET A YEAR.

IF I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, IT WOULD BE AT MY HOUSE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS IF I DIDN'T DIG IT UP.

SO I'D LIKE THE SAME ORDINANCE ENFORCED ACROSS THE BOARD NOW, AND I'D LIKE A BETTER PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE, THE TOWNSHIP GOES OUT THERE AND TAKES PICTURES, DOCUMENTS A COMPLAINT, MAKE SURE IT'S FOLLOWED UP ON.

THERE IS NO FOLLOW UP AND NO FINES DONE ON THIS PERSON IN SEVEN YEARS.

SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT THERE AFTERWARDS AND SAID, WHAT DID YOU DO TO REMEDIATE IT AND CLOSE THE CASE? IT'S STILL OPEN.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS STILL A CONTINUATION OF SEVEN YEARS AGO.

MR. HOEL, WHAT WAS YOUR ADDRESS AGAIN? MY ADDRESS IS 2 77 HOPEWELL.

IT IS ON MY NEIGHBOR TO THE RIGHT OF ME.

I THINK IT'S 2 79.

IT IS ON WESTLAKE TO DUR PROPERTY TO THE RIGHT AND FILED THE FIRST COMPLAINT SEVEN YEARS AGO.

ITS BACK ON HIS PROPERTY AS WELL.

AND DID YOU SAY THEY ALREADY GOT A VIOLATION IN 2018? I'M SORRY.

THEY GOT A CITATION.

THEY GOT A LETTER FROM THE TOWN.

THERE HAS BEEN, THERE'S BEEN NO SUMMONS, NO FINES, NOTHING, NO FOLLOW UP.

SO, MR. HARLE, COULD WE PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON THIS? I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN WE PASSED THE ORDINANCE, DIDN'T USED TO BE AN ORDINANCE BANNING THE BAMBOO, BUT I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE PASSED THAT ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT IS A NUISANCE AND AND IT DESTROYS PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.

SO PLEASE HAVE YES, ZONING OR ABSOLUTELY WHOEVER FOLLOW UP.

APPRECIATE IT.

YEP.

THANK YOU.

WILL DO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, THANK, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.

UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS JOHN BIA.

UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF MEDFORD AS A TAXPAYER AND I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

I'D LIKE TO BRING MY CONCERNS TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S BEING REAPPROPRIATED.

UM, I WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO GO TO A NEW FIREHOUSE FOR, TO FIRE COMPANY.

UH, SO PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE NOTING THAT THE CURRENT BUILDING WE ARE IN IS NOT APPROPRIATE BUILDING FOR A FIREHOUSE.

AND PREVIOUS COUNCIL MADE A DECISION TO RENOVATE OR GET A NEW BUILDING.

NEITHER OF THOSE HAVE BEEN DONE CURRENTLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THAT MADE COUNCIL AND OTHER MEMBERS DECIDE THAT THE BUILDING A NEW FIRE STATION WAS NO LONGER A PRIORITY.

UH, WE'VE BEEN STUCK IN THIS BUILDING SINCE 2009 AND HAVE BEEN DUMPING TONS OF MONEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT WE ARE LEFT WITH A BUILDING THAT IS DYSFUNCTIONAL AND LITERALLY FALLING APART.

AND NOW WE HAVE NO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

DUE TO THIS REAPPROPRIATION UH, UPGRADING NOW REDUCES LONG TERM MAINTENANCE COSTS AND PREVENT THE KIND OF FAILURES THAT COME WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT OUR BUILDING IS CURRENTLY IN.

A NEW FIRE STATION IS MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING.

IT'S A LIFELINE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

UH, FOR OUR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, IT MEANS BETTER EQUIPMENT STORAGE, FASTER RESPONSE TIMES, SAFER OPERATIONS, AND A PLACE TO TRAIN AND MORE INVITING SPACE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR NEXT GENERATION OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND PREPARE US FOR ANY INCIDENT THAT HAPPENS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN SAFETY AND RESILIENCE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR VOLUNTEERS ALREADY GIVE UP THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND COURAGE.

THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS GIVE 'EM A SPACE THAT REFLECTS THE PARTS OF THE WORK.

THANK YOU.

HEY THERE.

UH, DAVE MCBRIDE, UH, RESIDENT MEDFORD TAXPAYER VOLUNTEER.

UH, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS SOME HISTORY.

SOME OF YOU DON'T HAVE, HAVEN'T BEEN ON HERE THAT LONG.

SO BASICALLY, I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL SITUATION, THE TOWNSHIP'S IN, AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

MY CONCERN IS THAT, UH, SAME AS MY PREDECESSOR.

WE HAVE A BUILDING THAT WE'VE BEEN IN SINCE 2010, UH, TILL NOW.

WE'VE SPENT ROUGHLY $2 MILLION ON THIS BUILDING.

THE SISTER BUILDING RIGHT NEXT DOOR, THE TWIN JUST SOLD LAST YEAR IN THE PRIME MARKET FOR 1,000,100, UH, 100,000.

SO WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH AS WE COULD BUY IT FOR.

AND HERE WE ARE STILL TODAY WITH, IN THAT SAME YEAR.

THE BUILDING WAS PURCHASED IN 2019.

SEE, NOT SAME COUNCIL, BUT COUNSEL AND MANAGER MADE AN ORDINANCE, UH, I THINK IT'S 2019 DASH SEVEN, APPROPRIATING ABOUT $3 MILLION FOR RENOVATIONS, RECOGNIZING THAT THE, THE BUILDING NEEDED TO BE RENOVATED.

SO MY QUESTION IS, SINCE 2019 AND NOW WHAT HAS CHANGED, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RENOVATIONS.

AND

[00:15:02]

AND THE TOWN AND COUNCIL HAD DECIDED THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT VENTURE IN 2019.

AND TO MY PREDECESSOR'S POINT, WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.

AND NOW THE MONEY IS BEING REAPPROPRIATED FOR OTHER THINGS, WHICH IS UPSETTING TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO REAPPROPRIATE FUNDS EVEN FOR WHETHER IT'S ROADS IN LAKE PINE OR WHEREVER.

I DO THINK THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST MAY BE HAUNTING US WITH FAILURE TO INVEST IN THE ROUTE 70 CORRIDOR WITH BIG BOX STORES.

AND INSTEAD WE HAVE MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY DWELLINGS, WHICH INCREASE SCHOOL COSTS, SEWER, WATER, EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO I JUST, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AS A TAXPAYER.

AND ALSO IF YOU'RE WILLING TO ANSWER, IF YOU'RE NOT, THAT'S FINE.

IS THERE A PLAN GOING FORWARD OR, 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME.

'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPENSES AND I KNOW WE'RE IN A DEFICIT, SO I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION, BUT I JUST AM ASKING WHAT IS THE PLAN? 'CAUSE WE ACKNOWLEDGED IT IN 2019 AND WE HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR IT YET.

THANK YOU.

UM, MR. GU.

MR. YEAH.

I WAS, UH, IF WITH REAPPROPRIATING THOSE FUNDS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S OFF THE TABLE FOR THE FUTURE.

CORRECT.

COUNSEL HAS SUFFICIENT BORROWING CAPACITY TO, UM, BORROW MONEY IN THE FUTURE IF THAT'S WHAT COUNSEL DESIRES TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK I BETTER CLARIFY JUST WHAT THE REAPPROPRIATION INVOLVED THE, THE TOWN DID PASS AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE MONEY THEY GOT.

UM, THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT WAS FOR THE ARCHITECT TO DO A, A COST ESTIMATE.

THE COST ESTIMATE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT WAS WELL OVER TWO SOME MILLION DOLLARS, I BELIEVE.

AND THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME SAID, THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

SO THAT MONEY IS JUST SITTING THERE.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE SPENT FOR THE, FOR THE FARMHOUSE OR FOR THE FIREHOUSE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THE TOWNSHIP CAN'T THEN DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE FIREHOUSE DOWN THE ROAD, BUT THE MONEY'S APPROPRIATED.

IT'S GOTTA BE, IT'S GOTTA BE REAPPROPRIATED 'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA BE SPENT.

I, I UNDERSTAND.

SO, SO THAT, SO IT'S THAT TECHNICAL RECOGNIZED, IF YOUR POINT IS YOU WANT A NEW FIREHOUSE, YOU THINK THAT SHOULD BE RESURRECTED AND TALKED ABOUT AGAIN.

THAT'S FINE.

I'M JUST, I THINK THE APPROPRIATION OF IT THOUGH IS NOT A DECISION THAT THE FIREHOUSE IS NEVER GONNA BE APPROVED.

OH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

OKAY.

I'M SAYING THERE WAS A DECISION TO APPROPRIATE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

NO, THERE WAS ONLY A DECISION TO APPROPRIATE TO DO THE STUDY.

TO DO THE STUDY.

OKAY.

NO, THAT'S, THAT'S TRUE.

I THOUGHT WHAT I READ WAS THERE WAS LIKE $3 MILLION APPROPRIATED FOR IT.

BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG.

UH, NOT TRUE.

I DEFER TO YOU GUYS.

I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS IN FRONT OF ME.

BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE IF, OR EVEN IF IT WAS DECIDED AND THERE WERE STUDIES AND THERE WAS AN INTENT TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT, 'CAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS AN ISSUE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED INTO IT AT ALL.

RIGHT? WELL, THEY CERTAINLY LOOKED INTO IT.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE LOOKED INTO IT AND THEN WE KIND OF STOPPED.

AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHY DID WE JUST STOP 'CAUSE OF THE EXPENSE, THE EXPENSE 'CAUSE OF THE COST.

OKAY.

WELL THEN I GUESS THAT THAT WAS A DECISION BY THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.

YEAH, AND I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I SAY I, I'M GIVING GRACE HERE BECAUSE THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW COUNCILPEOPLE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH THE REAPPROPRIATE AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THINGS GET REAPPROPRIATED AND, AND THE SITU THE FINANCIAL SITUATION WE'RE IN, BUT JUST THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERATION THAT THERE WAS CONSIDERATION ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO FOR THIS.

AND THE SAME ISSUES HAVE NOT GONE AWAY.

IT'S THE SAME, SAME ISSUE.

SO, AND I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES, UH, ROADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I'LL, I'LL, UH, YIELD TO THE NEXT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I WILL, I WASN'T, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING, BUT I JUST WANNA, UH, CORRECT THE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE.

I CALL WHAT, YOU ALL KNOW ME.

I LIVE ON CENTENNIAL DRIVE IN MEDFORD.

UH, MR. PRIME, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CORRECT THE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE THAT, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE IS CORRECT OR FACTUAL.

AND YOU, YOU MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT CONNECTED TO THIS, UH, SO CLOSELY AS WE ARE AND YOU'RE CONNECTED TO MANY OTHER ISSUES.

SO IN 2019, THERE WAS MONEY THAT WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE 2 5 2 BUILDING.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, UH, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THE EXACT DOLLARS, BUT ROUGHLY 2.3, $2.5 MILLION, OF WHICH ROUGHLY $1 MILLION OF THAT WAS TO BE USED TO PAY OFF THE BOND OF THE, THE, THE CURRENT LEASE.

WE HAD A BALLOON PAYMENT ON THE LEASE OF THE PROPERTY.

WE PAID OVER 10 YEARS, UH, A PAYMENT EVERY YEAR.

AND THEN AT THE END, WE ALSO PAID ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS AT THE END OF THAT LEASE.

IT WAS A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

A LEASE PURCHASE, UH, PAYMENT.

YEP.

SO WE PAID FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN WE PAID A BALLOON PAYMENT.

THE REST OF THE MONEY, THAT MONEY WAS ALLOCATED AS WAS STATED IN 2019.

THE STUDY THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, SIR, WAS DONE LAST YEAR.

AND WE, WE CONTRACTED WITH AN ARCHITECT FOR, FOR SEVERAL PHASES OF DESIGN FROM A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO SCHEMATIC DESIGN.

UH, TOOK

[00:20:01]

THEY DID THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

WE ACTUALLY PAID FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR TWO LOCATIONS.

THE TOWNSHIP AT THAT TIME DECIDED WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ACTUALLY DO ONE LOCATION.

THEY DID NOT EVEN WANT TO ENTERTAIN THE SECOND LOCATION, EVEN THOUGH WE PAID FOR IT.

WE DID THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ONE LOCATION.

THAT MONEY WAS APPROXIMATELY $17,000, I THINK.

DON'T QUOTE IT WAS.

SO WE PAID FOR THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY OUT OF THE 2019 FUNDING.

SO THE MONEY WAS NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE, FOR THE STUDY, SIR.

THE MONEY WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE RENOVATION AND THE PURCHASE OF THE BUILDING.

HE USED A PORTION FROM THAT MONEY FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AND TO YOUR POINT, YOU ARE CORRECT THAT WHEN THAT STUDY CAME BACK, EVERYONE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT.

AT THAT POINT, LAST OCTOBER, COUNSEL PASSED A, UM, ANOTHER ORDINANCE TO ESSENTIALLY TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH THE ARCHITECT.

THAT HAPPENED LAST OCTOBER.

CORRECT.

SO THE STUDY THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO WAS ONLY WAS, WAS, WAS FUNDED FROM A PORTION OF WHAT WAS LEFT OUT OF THAT BUILDING FUND.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO DO IS I'M NOT STATING MY OPINION, I'M JUST STATING FACTS AND CLARIFYING WHAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

AND I DON'T WANNA BE CONFRONTATIONAL.

YES.

THAT, THAT FOR SOME REASON THEY APPROPRIATED ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE STUDY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DID THAT.

THAT WAS INCORRECT.

THEY, THE, THE 547,000 WAS THE TOTAL BUILDING PLANS AND EVERYTHING AND IT NEVER GOT THAT FAR.

SO IT WAS A WE WELL, THE, THE, THE, THE MONEY AND, AND I KNOW THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE I RESEARCHED IT THAT TIME.

YEAH, WELL I WAS INVOLVED IN, IN THAT, UH, RFP PROCESS BECAUSE I'M IN CONSTRUCTION, I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THIS SURE.

BUT I WORKED WITH, UH, CHIEF DOBY AT THE TIME AND WE WROTE WITH THE PLAN, WORKING WITH, WITH MANAGER BERGER AT THE TIME.

RIGHT.

BECAUSE AT THAT POINT THERE WAS SOME LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO DO A PROJECT.

WE KNEW WE HAD THE MONEY, WE KNEW WE NEEDED MORE MONEY, SO WE SAID LET'S GO HIRE AN ARCHITECT AND AND HIRE THEM FOR THESE, THESE FIVE PHASES.

SO WE ONLY, WE ONLY ACTUALLY CONTRACTED IT AND PAID FOR THAT FOR THE FIRST PHASE.

CORRECT.

SO WE WERE ONLY ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.

CORRECT.

BUT WE CONTRACTED FOR FIVE PHASES.

WE, THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT.

WELL, WE DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.

WE, WE THINK IT'S A, WE THINK THAT WE CONTRACTED FOR THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE PROJECT WAS GONNA MOVE FORWARD.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY.

OKAY.

BUT IT DIDN'T, I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA GET INTO INTERJECT HERE AND, AND START SPECULATING AND, AND, AND VOCALIZING MY OPINION, UM, OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, I ALL HAVE ONE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THAT RIGHT NOW IN, IN FRONT OF UM, THAT'S FINE.

SO ALL I WANNA DO IS COME UP AND JUST STATE THE FACTS AND JUST PUT THE HISTORY OUT THERE SO EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND FACTUALLY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY COUNSEL? UH, MY NAME'S BRAD KENNY AT 36 HOLLY DRIVE.

UM, JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE SAME THING, UH, THAT THE PAST COUPLE GUYS I'VE TALKED ABOUT.

UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON MYSELF, I MOVED HERE IN 2020.

I MOVED FROM MORRISTOWN.

UH, I SPENT 10 YEARS THERE AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, UH, SIX OF THOSE YEARS.

I ALSO WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ON THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS.

I SERVED AS A COUPLE DIFFERENT POSITIONS, SECRETARY TREASURER AS WELL AS, UH, VICE CHAIR OF THAT, UH, BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS.

AND, UH, NOT HERE TO DEBATE, UH, WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD HAVE A FIRE DISTRICT THAT THAT'LL BE FOR ANOTHER TIME.

UM, BUT I DID WANT TO, UH, JUST COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE FEELINGS.

I MEAN, YOU CAN TELL THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, A HOT TOPIC FOR THE VOLUNTEERS IN TOWN.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT REASON IS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A JOB FOR US, RIGHT? THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

WE VOLUNTEER OUR TIME AND IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE DOLLARS AND CENTS AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE VOLUNTEERS SAVE THE TOWN BY BEING HERE RATHER THAN STAFFING 2 24 HOUR STATIONS.

UM, BUT EVEN THAT COST, I THINK IS NOT ENOUGH, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING UP TIME WITH OUR FAMILY.

WE'RE GIVING UP HOLIDAYS TO GO AND SERVE THE TOWN.

AND I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO REPRESENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT, NOT ON AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL.

OUR CHIEFS, OUR LINE OFFICERS, AMAZING, RIGHT? BUT ENGAGEMENT FROM TOWN COUNCIL, ENGAGEMENT FROM THE LEADERSHIP THAT ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT US.

AND EVEN THOUGH REAPPROPRIATION IS A LINE ITEM ON A BUDGET, RIGHT, THAT IMPACTS THE VOLUNTEERS, RIGHT? AND WHEN THE VOLUNTEERS FIND OUT ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE OF A, YOU KNOW, UH, TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES, RIGHT? AND, AND EVEN OUR CHIEF NOT KNOWING IT EARLY ENOUGH TO KIND OF REALLY TALK TO THE VOLUNTEERS ABOUT IT.

THAT'S A, THAT'S A PROBLEM, RIGHT? SO, UM, MY ASK IS, THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVE MORE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND THINK ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS IN THESE DECISIONS.

EVEN IF IT'S A COMMUNICATION PIECE, I GET THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THAT APPROPRIATION TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING, RIGHT? THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE ANOTHER BOND ORDINANCE LATER.

AND I HOPE THAT THAT HAPPENS, AND I HOPE THAT THAT HAPPENS SOON, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A NUMBER OF YEARS UNTIL THAT BUILDING COULD BE BUILT.

MY OTHER ASK IS THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAN THE BUILDING WE HAVE NOW BECAUSE A WAREHOUSE IS NOT

[00:25:01]

UH, IN MY OPINION.

SO, UH, MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD LOVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO SEE A PLAN FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EITHER TO OUR EXISTING BUILDING OR A BUILDING IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK THAT WOULD PUT A LOT OF THE VOLUNTEERS AT EASE.

RIGHT? SOME PEACE OF MIND.

UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE SERVING THE TOWN AND HELPING.

UM, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE PLANNING FUTURE OF OUR BUILDING.

SO I THANK YOU FOR, I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB THAT YOU HAVE.

I'VE SAT IN THAT CHAIR FROM A FIRE DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? MANAGING BUDGETS IS TOUGH.

WE'RE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BUDGET, BUT FROM 6:00 PM TO 6:00 AM WE'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF YOUR FIRE RESPONSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE JUST ASK THAT WE HAVE THAT SAME CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS JACKIE FAUST FOR PILTON DRIVE.

UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, JUNE 3RD, THE SPECIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING.

IS THE PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND? YES.

AND WILL THERE BE PUBLIC COMMENTS? UM, YES.

YEAH, THERE HAS TO BE.

YEAH.

EVERY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

EVERY MEETING HAS TO HAVE AN A OPEN PUBLIC, UH, SESSION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? NO.

UM, BEFORE I CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST AS ONE COUNCIL PERSON, I'D LIKE TO DUFFY THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDES FOR OUR TOWN.

UM, MY SON WORKS WITH YOU GUYS AND TO HAVE MY SON LOOK UP TO YOU IS, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

SO, UM, IT IS A VERY TOUGH BUDGET SEASON.

AND, UM, UM, WE, THAT ASIDE, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL, AND THAT I HAVE TOWARDS THE BUILDING.

I'M SEEING A LOT OF YOUR CHALLENGES, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DO HEAR, HEAR YOUR CONCERNS.

UM, SO LAST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

? NO.

OKAY.

UH, SEEING NONE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT? SO MOVE SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

OPPOSED? OKAY.

UM, MR. ,

[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]

THANK YOU.

UH, BEFORE I GET TO THE ITEMS ON A MAN, UH, MANAGER'S REPORT, I, UH, I DO WANNA TAKE A KIND OF A STRANGE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO THE PINE BARONS TRIBUNE FOR RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF MEDFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS AND PLACING FLAGS ON THE CEMETERIES OF VETERANS IN ANTICIPATION OF MEMORIAL DAY.

I THINK THEY DID A NICE JOB IN THAT ARTICLE, RECOGNIZING WHAT OUR PEOPLE DO, IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO FIRE AND EMS CALLS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

UM, THE MEDFORD EMS ALSO PARTICIPATED AS SOME OF YOU'RE AWARE, IN THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR LATE BECKY SCOTT WHO SERVED WITH THE TOWNSHIP AS A VOLUNTEER.

AND THAT, THAT WAS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, A VERY TOUCHING EVENT.

AND, UM, LASTLY, BEFORE I GET TO THESE OTHER ITEMS, UH, STATION 2 52 MEMBERS OF MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, UM, THEY WILL BE PARTICIPATING THIS WEEKEND IN A ANNUAL BOOT DRIVE BOOT FUNDRAISER.

SO IF YOU HAVE COINS OR CASH AND YOU HAPPEN TO BE AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAUNTON IN TUCKERTON, PLEASE CHIP IN TO THEIR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER TO USE THAT TO SUPPORT THE MEMBERS, DO SOME GOOD THINGS, UM, WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR COMPANY.

UH, ON, ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE HAVE A REQUEST TO APPROVE A NEW, UH, VOLUNTEER MEMBER FOR STATION 2 51, ANDREW LACHANCE.

UM, HE'S A LOCAL RESIDENT THAT'S INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR, UH, THE UNION FIRE COMPANY, AND WE WOULD ASK YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT FOR HIM.

SECOND ITEM ON HERE, UH, WE HAVE BEEN, WE, UH, A MEMBER OF TIM'S STAFF, UH, THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER AND, UH, THE TOWNSHIP PLANNER.

UH, WE HAVE, AND THE TAX TAX, UH, ASSESSOR AND I, AND ALSO PLANNING AND ZONING HAVE BEEN WORKING SEVERAL HOURS TO UPDATE OUR RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE INVENTORY.

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GREEN ACRES PROGRAM, WE HAVE TO DO A RECREATE.

WE HAVE TO DO UPDATES TO OUR RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE INVENTORY.

AND THIS IS A, A RATHER LARGE DOCUMENT.

THERE ARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL TABS OF TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES THAT ARE HELD FOR OPEN SPACE FOR RECREATION.

THERE ARE ARE PROPERTIES ON WHICH TOWNSHIP MAY HAVE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR THE COUNTY.

[00:30:01]

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO JUST TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES.

SO BACK IN THE FALL, GREEN ACRES ACRES PROGRAM SENT US A LIST OF OUR OWN PROPERTIES, HOW KIND OF THEM, THEY DOWNLOADED A LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 750 TOWNSHIP OWNED PAR PARCELS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN, AND THEY HAD QUESTIONS ON MANY OF 'EM AS TO WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE ON THE RECREATION OPEN SPACE INVENTORY.

UH, WE USE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ONES THAT WERE ALREADY LISTED.

AND WHAT WE DISCOVERED WAS SOME OF THE PROPERTIES EITHER SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LISTED OR THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CARVE OUT, MEANING THAT IF THERE WAS, SAY, 80 ACRES OF WHAT GREEN ACRES THINKS IS OPEN SPACE, BUT THERE'S A WATER TOWER ON THERE WITH THREE ACRES OF EQUIPMENT, THAT THREE ACRES SHOULDN'T BE COUNTED TOWARD OPEN SPACE BECAUSE IT'S NOT OPEN SPACE.

WE ALSO FOUND THAT PROPERTIES WERE LABELED AS OPEN SPACE, AND THEY WEREN'T.

THEY WERE, THEY WERE DRAINAGE FACILITIES.

THERE WERE ACTUAL DRAINAGE PIPES AND METAL OR, UH, CONCRETE QUARTERS FOR DRAINAGE.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE RECREATION O OPEN SPACE INVENTORY IS FOR.

UM, WE DID DISCOVER THAT THERE WERE PROPERTIES THAT WERE, UH, MEANT FOR OPEN SPACE THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE ON THERE.

SO WE'VE, WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH GREEN ACRES.

WE HAVE ONE CALL TOMORROW, HOPEFULLY TO GET THEIR BLESSING ON WHAT WE'VE SENT TO THEM.

BUT THE NET RESULT OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING GREEN ACRES TO PROVE IS AN INCREASE IN 80 ACRES OF OPEN OR OR PRESERVE SPACE.

SO WE WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL, AUTHORIZE A RESOLUTION TONIGHT TO, UH, ENABLE ME AS THE TOWN MANAGER TO SIGN THE OP, THE RECREATION, UPDATED OP RECREATION, OPEN SPACE INVENTORY.

UH, THE PLANNING BOARD ALSO WILL BE CONSIDERING THIS AT THEIR UPCOMING MEETING AS WELL, BECAUSE IT, IT REQUIRES CONCURRENCE FROM THE PLANNING BOARD VIA A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PLANNING BOARD CHAIRMAN TO, UH, APPROVE IT AS WELL.

THIRD ITEM ON, ON THE LIST HERE.

UM, WE HAVE A POTENTIAL TO MAKE SOME MONEY OFF A, A LESSER USED PROPERTY.

WE HAVE A, A LANDFILL NEXT TO STATION 2 52.

IT HASN'T BEEN USED AS A LANDFILL IN DECADES, CLOSE LANDFILL, BUT WE STILL USE IT FOR, UM, FILL FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY DO SOME EXCAVATING, THEY'LL STORE FILL OVER THERE.

UM, WE THINK THAT THAT MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, DEVELOPMENT AS A SOLAR ARRAY.

AND IF WE COULD WORK WITH THE SOLICITOR ON DOING AN RFP, UH, IDEALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO LEASE THE PROPERTY AND HAVE A COMPANY THAT DEVELOPS SOLAR RAYS.

UM, PAY, PAY THE TOWN ON A LONG-TERM LEASE TO GIVE US SOME REVENUE FOR THAT PROPERTY.

IT'S, IT HAS SOME SCRUB SCRUB PINES.

THERE'LL BE SOME TREE REMOVAL FEES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE COLLECTED ALONG WITH THAT, OR WE'RE REPLANNING ELSEWHERE.

WE CAN NEGOTIATE THAT.

BUT WE WOULD LIKE COUNSEL TO SUPPORT AT LEAST, UH, PUB PUBLISHING AN RFP AND SEEING WHAT KIND OF, UH, FEEDBACK WE CAN GET FOR THAT.

UH, IN MY RESEARCH, ANYWHERE FROM 2000 TO 4,000 AN ACRE IS WHAT THESE, THESE SOLAR FIELDS TYPICALLY LEASE FOR.

WE HAVE 17 ACRES, SO, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE IN A, IN A, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO WITH THE LOW RANGE, BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF, OF 50 TO $70,000 A YEAR FOR 25 YEARS WITH ESCALATOR CLAUSES BUILT IN.

SO IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, 75,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR.

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, IT COULD BE 90,000 OR A HUNDRED THOUSAND BASED ON, ON WHAT WE NEGOTIATE.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE THAT COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUE FOR FUTURE BUDGETS.

AND THEN THE FOURTH ITEM, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS WE, WE DID THE RFP FOR 39 ALLEN AVENUE.

UH, 39 ALLEN AVENUE COST US MONEY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE'RE WE'RE PAYING TO KEEP THE UTILITIES ON.

WE HAVE TO, UH, WE'RE PAYING FOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, SECURE IT TO SECURE IT, WHATNOT.

UM, WE RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE.

WE ADVERTISED IN TWO NEWSPAPERS.

WE ADVERTISED ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE PUT A, A SIGN IN FRONT.

WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE ASK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE HAD ONE FIRM SUBMIT, UH, A RESPONSIVE PROPOSAL.

THE FIRM HAPPENS TO BE A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS,

[00:35:02]

AND WE WOULD LIKE YOUR CONSIDERATION TO, UH, BEGIN NEGOTIATING WITH THEM ON A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND A PURCHASE PRICE.

WE DID HAVE AN APPRAISAL DONE.

UM, THE PROPERTY HAS A LOT OF DEFICIENCIES.

TRUTHFULLY, IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR A WHILE.

UM, AND IT, IT JUST NEEDS, UM, ATTENTION, IT NEEDS INVESTMENT.

AND WE HAVE A PROPOSER THAT'S VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT MAKING THAT PROPERTY LOOK GOOD FOR THE DOWNTOWN.

SO THOSE ARE OUR ASK TONIGHT APPROVAL OF, OF, UH, STEVEN LACHANCE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ENABLE ME TO EXECUTE THE UPDATED ROSSI, UH, APPROVAL FOR MY OFFICE AND THE SOLICITOR TO WORK TOGETHER IN RFP FOR GRAVELEY HOLLOW ROAD LANDFILL REDEVELOPMENT.

AND, UM, TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH A PROSPECTIVE REDEVELOPER FOR 39 ALLEN AVENUE.

THANK YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS, BUT JUST TO SURE.

I I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.

THE ROSSI, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROSSI IS IF A PROPERTY'S ON THE ROSSI AS A RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PROPERTY, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF IT.

IF YOU TRY TO SELL IT OR, OR DONATE IT OR GET RID OF IT, YOU HAVE TO FIND, IF IT'S AN ACRES, YOU HAVE TO FIND SEVEN ACRES SOMEPLACE ELSE.

YOU HAVE TO DEAL TO DRINK.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHAT'S ON THERE.

UM, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TAKING ALL THE TIME AND THE MONEY.

UH, I CAN'T PARTICIPATE BECAUSE I FIRST DEALT WITH THEM, REPRESENTED TOWNSHIP 12 YEARS AGO, AND I WENT BERSERK AT THE PEOPLE UP THERE.

I CAN'T, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

SO HE'S HANDLING IT WITH SOMEBODY FROM MY OFFICE BECAUSE IT IS PURE BUREAUCRACY.

MM-HMM .

PURE BUREAUCRACY.

BUT ANYWAY, THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

WE'LL GET IT DONE.

BUT IT'S, IT'S CRAZY.

YEAH.

AND, BUT THEY'RE HOLDING UP MONEY.

WE WERE HOLDING UP MONEY FOR PROPERTY WE BOUGHT YEARS AGO.

YEARS AGO THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET A GRANT TO PAY FOR IT.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET A, GET IT FINISHED.

THANKS.

SORRY FOR THE RAN.

NO, NO, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

MR. HARLE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

UM, UM, IS MR. LACHANCE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY? NO.

OKAY.

UM, WELL CHIEF, IF YOU COULD THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE, UM, WE'LL DO A I'LL, I GUESS I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT MR. LICHEN'S POSITION.

YEP.

OKAY.

SECOND, SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.

VOICE, VOICE, VOTE.

FINE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ALRIGHT.

CHIEF W PLEASE THANK MR. LAHAN FOR US.

AND THEN, UM, FOR THE OTHER ITEMS, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK WITH THE ROSSI.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN, UM, BELABORING, UH, JUST ON THE LANDFILL.

I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED IT AND IT, IT'S TRULY THE PROPERTY THAT THE LANDFILL EXISTED ON.

IT, IT, IT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PROPERTY OF THE FIRE STATION NO.

OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

AND THEN, UM, WHEN WILL WE HAVE THE NEXT UPDATE ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF AT 39? WE WILL, WE WILL NEGOTIATE WITH THE, UH, THE PROSPECTIVE, UH, UH, RESPONDER.

IF WE CAN GET, ASSUMING WE CAN RESOLVE IT, IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU.

UH, WE WILL NEED A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AN AUTHORIZATION FROM YOU OR I'M SORRY, AN AUTHORIZATION FROM YOU TO NAME THEM AS A REDEVELOPER, A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY.

UNDERSTOOD.

THOSE WILL ALL BE PART OF PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, THE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

BUT FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DEAL THAT EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH.

YEAH.

GREAT.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY MOTIVATED.

WE'RE VERY MOTIVATED AND, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROLLS AND GET SOMEBODY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

IT IT IS COST MONEY.

IT'S A HAZARD AT THIS POINT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

UNSAFE AT CERTAIN AREAS.

SO WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE .

YEAH.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN VACANT EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, GOSH, OVER TWO YEARS.

WHAT'S THAT? HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN VACANT? A COUPLE YEARS.

WELL IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN VACANT AS LONG AS WE'VE BEEN IN TOWN HALL.

RIGHT.

BECAUSE THE LIBRARY MOVED WHEN TOWN HALL OPEN.

SO IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS, 24 YEARS.

TOWN HALL.

YEAH.

I THINK IT WAS 2020.

YEAH, WE HAVE PROBABLY FOUR YEARS.

I THINK IT WAS 2021 TOWN.

THE BRICK SAYS 2020, BUT I DON'T THINK IT ACTUALLY WAS OCCUPIED.

20.

NO, 21.

YEAH.

ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT GENTLEMEN.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

UH, WE WILL

[IX. CLERK’S REPORT]

OKAY.

UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF, UH, MS. STA SOCIAL AFFAIR.

WE'RE MEETING AT THE ARBORETUM ON JUNE 7TH.

WE HAVE APPROVAL FOR ST.

MARY THE LAKES PTA RAFFLE FOR BASKET RAFFLE ON JUNE 13TH, 19 13TH.

ALRIGHT, GREAT.

UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CLERK'S REPORT? SOME.

SO MOVE SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THANK YOU MS. WICKER.

MOVING ON TO THE BILL

[X. BILL LIST]

WE HAVE TWO BILL LISTS TO ACCEPT.

UH, MAY 15TH, 2025 AND MAY 19TH, 2025.

[00:40:02]

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? A.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT WE ARE MOVING ON TO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION.

WE HAVE NONE.

NEXT SECTION WILL BE

[XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S) ]

ALRIGHT, WELL WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 10? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 10 AMENDING CHAPTER 35 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE ENTITLED ALCOHOL BEVERAGES.

THANK YOU.

UM, DUE TO OUR CENSUS REPORT, OUR POPULATION OF 24,497 RESIDENTS METHOD IS FOR PERMITTED BY LAW TO ADD ONE PLENARY.

I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT.

RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE.

UM, WE WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE, RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL YOU UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

OKAY.

SEEING NONE WOULD, I'LL SECOND THE MOTION TO, YEAH.

MOTION.

I SECOND.

ALL RIGHT, SO, SO WE WILL ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT? SOME MOVE.

IS THAT OKAY? YES.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

AND NOW ON THE MOTION? YEAH, I GOT THAT.

I DO.

MS. MILL.

AYE.

MS. SIMON? AYE.

MR. WATSON? AYE.

DEPUTY MAYOR AYE.

ALL GREAT.

ANY COUNSEL COMMENTS MS. ONE? NO.

ALRIGHT.

ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION.

MS. NO.

AYE.

MS. SIMONS? AYE.

MR. WATSON? AYE.

DEPUTY MAYOR AYE.

ALRIGHT, THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.

WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 12? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 12 BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BY OR FOR THE COUNT OF MEDFORD IN THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, STATE OF NEW JERSEY REAPPROPRIATING $1,000,479 AND $4 SEVEN 97 CENTS IN EXCESS PROCEEDS FROM VARIOUS BOND ORDINANCE.

NOT NEEDED FURTHER ORIGINAL PURPOSES TO FINANCE COSTS THEREOF.

OKAY.

THIS ORDINANCE TAKES, YOU NEED A SECOND? SECOND.

OH OKAY ON THAT? YEP.

NOW TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

UM, THIS ORDINANCE TAKES $1,479,004 AND 97 CENTS FROM PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED LEGACY BOND ORDINANCES FROM 2009 TO 2020 AND RE APPROPRIATES THE FUNDS TO VEHICLES AND APPARATUS FOR PUBLIC WORKS FIRE, EMS MEDICAL SERVICES AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS FOR 2025.

WE NOW OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE, RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL YOU THE MICROPHONE.

MAYOR, THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THERE WERE COMMENTS MADE EARLIER UNDER THE PUBLIC SET, UH, PORTION CONCERNING THAT PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT REFLECTS THE, UH, REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE FIREHOUSE.

THOSE COMMENTS ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AS IF THEY WERE RELATED TO THE ORDINANCE AND WE COULD FIRST NO NEED TO REPEAT THEM AND WE COULD PROCEED FROM THERE.

UNDERSTOOD.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

UH, MAY HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC.

SO MOVE I COULD.

ALRIGHT.

UH, ROLL CALL PLEASE.

MS MILK.

AYE.

MS. SIMON? AYE.

MR. WATSON? AYE.

DEPUTY MAYOR? AYE.

ALRIGHT.

AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION.

MS. MILK.

AYE.

MS. SIMON? AYE.

MR. WATSON? AYE.

DEPUTY MAYOR AYE.

THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.

WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 13? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 13 AMENDING CHAPTER 75.

ARTICLE THREE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP ENTITLED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

THANK YOU.

UM, SAME.

THIS ORDINANCE UPDATES OUR FIRE PREVENTION CODE.

THE STATE NO LONGER REQUIRES FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SINGLE FAMILY OWNED AT TIME OF RESALE.

WE'LL NOW OPEN THIS ORDINANCE UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.