[00:00:01]
I CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING FOR TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD TOWN COUNCIL FOR OCTOBER 7TH, 2025.
GENTLEMEN, THIS MEETING IS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF OCTOBER 7TH, 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 THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON 20, ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2024, AND HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY POSTED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE 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.
[II. FLAG SALUTE]
RISE FOR THE LICENSE DETAIL.ATTEND ORDER ARMS, I PLEDGE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[III. ROLL CALL]
CALL PLEASE.[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]
HAVE ONE SPECIAL PRESENTATION TONIGHT.AS YOU KNOW, MEDFORD IS FILLED WITH AMAZING PEOPLE, AND WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF A LONG LINEAGE OF UNBELIEVABLE CAPTAINS AND CHIEFS, UH, ALONG THE LINE IN MEDFORD.
AND SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR OUR RETIRING CHIEF ARTHUR WATERMAN.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA READ A PROCLAMATION FOR HIM.
AND SO COUNSEL'S GONNA GO DOWN AND STAND, AND MR. WATERMAN, IF YOU'LL COME UP, THAT WOULD, WHEREAS ARTHUR LANE WATER HAS BEEN A FULLTIME EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD SINCE JULY 6TH, 1998, BEGINNING HIS CAREER AS RECRUIT IN THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT AND RETIRING AS CHIEF OF POLICE FROM TOWNSHIP.
AND WHEREAS ART HAS BUILT HIS CAREER IN POLICING OVER THE PAST 27 YEARS, HAVING BEEN APPOINTED AS A REGULAR POLICE OFFICER ON JULY 6TH, 1999, BEING DESIGNATED AS A CORPORAL ON JANUARY 1ST, 2003, HAVING EARNED A PROMOTION TO SERGEANT ON AUGUST 7TH, 2006, BEING EARNED A PROMOTION TO LIEUTENANT ON MARCH 5TH, 2009, AND SUCCEEDING TO THE ROLE OF CHIEF OF POLICE ON JULY 1ST, 2021.
AND WHEREAS ART HAS ALSO SERVED AS ACTING TOWNSHIP MANAGER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HAS FUNCTIONED AS DEPUTY TOWNSHIP MANAGER FOR TRANSITIONARY PERIOD.
AND WHEREAS ART AS A TOWNSHIP RESIDENT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND VERY INVOLVED WITH HIS DAUGHTER'S ATHLETIC CAREER AND CAPACITY TO COACH AND TOP FAN.
AND WHEREAS ART HAS ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL SUCCESS DURING HIS CAREER, INCLUDING GRADUATING FROM THE 262ND SESSION OF THE FBI'S NATIONAL ACADEMY AND EARNING HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
AND WHEREAS BAR HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR SOME NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY HIS PEERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE COUNTY FIRST RESPONDER, MEMORIAL FREEDOM PARK LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OF BURLINGTON COUNTY CIVIL RESPONSE TEAM INITIATION OF A MULTI-AGENCY WELLNESS COMMITTEE FOCUSED ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING POLICE OFFICERS ORGANIZATION OF THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE ALUMNI BREAKFAST, AND THE LAUNCH OF THE BURLINGTON COUNTY BLUE AND BELOW INITIATIVE TO HELP PATROL OFFICERS BETTER ENGAGED WITH DRIVERS HAVING SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF ALL TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESSES, WISHES TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO ART FOR THE HONOR, INTEGRITY, PROFICIENCY AND DEDICATION HE BROUGHT TO MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HIS IMPACT UPON PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE TOWNSHIP FROM REGION NOW THEREFORE BE A RESULT OF THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD AND ARTHUR E WATERMAN, JR.
FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP OVER HIS TENURE WITH THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL WISHES ON LONG, ENJOY HEALTHY RETIREMENT, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST 20.
[00:05:12]
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO DEPUTY COUNCIL COUNCIL, UH, FOR THE KIND WORDS IN THE PROCLAMATION.I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MEN COUNCIL, POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND TEAMWORK AND THE FRIENDSHIP THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT GOES FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO CAME THROUGH, PEOPLE TRAINED, TAUGHT ME, UM, HOW TO BE POLICE OFFICER, AND THEN THOSE THAT WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
AND ALSO, UM, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THEM.
BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS SUCH A DIFFICULT JOB THAT I OFTEN WATCH FROM THE SIDE, KIND OF FROM THE SIDELINES, BECAUSE I'M NOT ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY.
I WASN'T ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY, UM, WATCHED THESE PEOPLE, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND HOW SMART THEY'RE, AND HOW EFFECTIVE THEY'RE, AND HOW WELL THEY COMMUNICATE.
UH, WE HAD SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, TENURES CHIEF AND ONE OF THE, A FEW OF THE WORDS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
TIME FAIR, IMPARTIAL, COURTEOUS, UM, THAT WAS A BIG COMPLIMENT.
AND IT SPOKE TO THE CHARACTER OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW WE PICKED PEOPLE.
UM, VERY PROUD OF MY TIME AS A POLICE OFFICER THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND INCIDENTS, JOBS.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF INCIDENTS IN MY LIFE THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET.
I'LL ALWAYS TAKE WITH ME, AND I SEE THEM SOMETIMES IN MY SLEEP.
UM, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE MEMORIES AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT I CARRIED WITH ME FOREVER WITH ALL OF YOU AND THE KINDNESS THAT YOU'VE ALL SHOWED THE RESIDENT OF AND HOW I'VE BEEN TREATED THROUGHOUT MY 27 YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, REALLY RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY, MY TWO DAUGHTERS FOR ALL, UM, MY MOM AND OF COURSE MY WIFES AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER
AS AS CHIEF, I WANT SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES ON, A LOT OF BACKING THINGS.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR CLINICAL STAFF, THE RUN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JOB, I CAN'T, I CAN'T LEAVE THEM OUT.
UM, THEY WERE HUGE SUPPORT FOR ME AS CHIEF AND I THEM FOR A LOT OF INFORMATION AND A LOT OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE.
MY ASSISTANT MAR BARN, SHE WAS REALLY THE BACKBONE, WAS THE CHIEF THE WHOLE TIME.
UM, BUT REALLY SUPPORTED ME THROUGH IT ALL.
I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT AND I REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF MY COMMAND STAFF.
UM, BILL W WHO I THINK IS GONNA DO A GREAT JOB FOR YOU GUYS AS CHIEF, UM, JEFF SAN CAPTAIN NOW, WILL ALSO, UH, HELP LEAD CHARGE JOE.
SO, UH, JIM, GEORGE JACKSON, SOME LIEUTENANT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND THEY WERE EXCEPTIONAL.
UM, I WAS ALWAYS THE TYPE OF PERSON TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE SMARTEST PEOPLE WHO DO A GOOD JOB.
UM, AND WE REALLY DID PUMP OUT A LOT OF GREAT INITIATIVES THAT I THINK WILL BENEFIT THE TOWNSHIP AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS AS A WHOLE.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO ALLOW DETAIL, ATTENTION, DISMISS.
I, ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL RECONVENE AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF CHIEF WATERMAN, NOW RETIRED CHIEF WATERMAN.
AND WE HAVE NO OTHER SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS? I JUST HAVE ONE JUST TO, UM, THANK THE MEDFORD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FOR AN AWESOME TWO DAYS AT THE OCTOBERFEST.
IT WAS, THEY HAD LOVELY WEATHER.
I WAS THERE ON SATURDAY AND ALSO FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED THE EVENT.
AND IT'S GETTING TO BE EXCITING HALLOWEEN TIME BECAUSE OUR HALLOWEEN PARADE IS UPCOMING.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME GRAND OPENINGS OF NEW BUSINESSES IN TOWN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXCITING AND SOME OF THEM CELEBRATING A ONE OR TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
SO GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN MEDFORD RIGHT NOW.
UH, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, THANK
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SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CLOSING THE DOOR.WE'RE ACTUALLY LEGALLY NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THE DOOR CLOSED BECAUSE THE OPEN PUBLIC, UH, RULES, IT'S TOO NOISY.
PUT YOUR MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER OR SPEAK UP.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS ANY FURTHER ATION? NOPE.
UH, WE HAD THE HONOR THIS, UH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OF BEING HERE FOR A RIBBON CUTTING OF DR.
STILL HISTORICAL PARK AND THAT IS ON CHURCH ROAD.
STILL WAS KNOWN AS THE BLACK DOCTOR OF THE PINES AND JUST A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR HIS FAMILY, HIS LINEAGE, AND BE PART OF THE TRAIL OF BLACK HISTORY HERE IN MEDFORD.
SO REALLY A WONDERFUL CEREMONY AND SUCH AN HONOR FOR MEDFORD TO BE A PART OF THAT.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS? OKAY, I SEEING NONE OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS.
WE HAVE NOVEMBER 6TH, 2025, THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT 6:30 PM
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
UH, MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES SEVERAL SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES? UH, I NEED TO EXCUSE MYSELF FROM THE VOTING.
I WAS NOT HERE FOR THAT MEETING.
ALRIGHT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES? SO MOVED.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THE MINUTES ARE, UH, ACCEPTED.
[VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS]
TWO ITEMS ON, UH, LISTED FOR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.THE FIRST ONE, MR. HORWELL, IF YOU'LL LEAD US THROUGH IT, THE REGIONAL RESILIENCY GRANT APPLICATION.
UM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE, UH, COUNTY PLANNING OFFICE CONTACTED MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, ME IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL AS EVESHAM MEDFORD LAKES, SHAMONG AND TABERNACLE, AND ASKED US IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A, UM, A RESILIENCY GRANT APPLICATION.
THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO, UH, IDENTIFY SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.
MA'AM, I'M SORRY, WE MUST KEEP THE DOOR OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC MEETING.
TALK INTO THE MICROPHONE, GUYS.
WELL, I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE OUT IN THE LOBBY.
SO, UM, UH, ANYWAY, THE COUNTY IS, IS ORGANIZING, UH, FIVE TOWNS AND WE ARE LOOKING TO ADDRESS SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, PERHAPS, UH, WILDFIRES AND FLOODING WITHIN A REGION.
AND, UH, THERE'S A $300,000 GRANT THAT THE NEW JERSEY DEP IS MAKING AVAILABLE.
THE COUNTY WOULD SERVE AS THE LEAD AGENCY AND WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS TO TRY TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LOOKING AT THOSE, THOSE MATTERS.
SO WE HAD A, UH, A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE COUNTY TWO DAYS AGO AND, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, THE OTHER FOUR TOWNS ARE ON BOARD AND WANNA PARTICIPATE, SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET COUNCIL'S SUPPORT TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL FOR MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? I JUST HAVE A, A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.
THE, THE GOAL IS TO MANAGE FOREST FIRES AND FLOODING AND, AND SO WE LIVE IN THIS REALLY UNIQUE PLACE BETWEEN, AT THE VERY EDGE OF URBAN SPRAWL AND THE VERY EDGE OF THE PINELANDS.
AND IT'S THIS UNIQUE CONFLUENCE FOR US AND THAT ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE A TREE CITY, USA AND WE ARE UP AGAINST COURT MANDATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO I THINK ANYONE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND ALLOW US TO WORK WELL WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO, UH, TO REALLY FUNCTION AS A TOWN AND ACHIEVE SOME REALLY TERRIFIC THINGS AND MANAGE THESE THINGS BETTER AS A UNIT, I THINK IS TERRIFIC.
UH, AND JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS, UH, STUDY, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO, UH, PURSUE MORE GRANT FUNDING DEPENDING ON, UM, WHAT THE STUDY RECOMMENDS.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? ALRIGHT, SO THE SECOND DISCUSSION ITEM IS ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO SERVE ON THAT.
UH, THIS IS A SKIP THE STUFF CAMPAIGN, A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
SO, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, VERY ACTIVE AS WELL AS OUR GREEN TEAM.
AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IS THEY'D LIKE TO GET COUNCIL SUPPORT TO PARTICIPATE IN A SKIP THE STUFF PROGRAM.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY FROM THE LAST FIVE YEARS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ORDER MORE TAKEOUT DINNERS AND LUNCHES AND UH, MEALS.
AND WHEN THEY DO THAT, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES TEND TO PUT IN NAPKINS AND UTENSILS AND ITEMS THAT A LOT OF TIMES JUST
[00:15:01]
DON'T GET USED OR THEY, THEY END UP, YOU KNOW, FLYING OUT THE WINDOW OF THE CAR OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.SO THE, UH, EAC AND THE GREEN TEAM WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND GO TO LOCAL BUSINESSES ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND ASK THEM TO AVOID PACKING THOSE ITEMS IN TAKEOUT BAGS UNLESS THE PERSON ORDERING THE FOOD SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THE UTENSILS OR THE NAPKINS.
AND SO IT'S A SENSIBLE WAY, IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE BUSINESSES AS WELL.
'CAUSE IT CUT CUTS DOWN ON THEIR WASTE AND ON, YOU KNOW, THE SIDE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT REDUCES THE POTENTIAL FOR LITTER.
SO THEY JUST ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND IF YOU GUYS ARE GOOD WITH IT COLLECTIVELY, THEY WILL, UH, LAUNCH IT.
AND WE, AND, UH, THE TOWNSHIP MANAGEMENT MANAGER'S OFFICE WILL SUPPORT THEM THROUGH, UH, ADVERTISING IT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. OKAY.
MR. HOR NICKEL, WILL ANY OF THIS BE, UM, AVAILABLE ON THE QR CODE? THE, THE MEDFORD? SO WE, WE ARE, UH, CONTINUING TO UPDATE THE QR CODE AND UH, WE ARE WORKING TO UM, UM, ADD MORE BUSINESS LISTINGS TO THAT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO FIND THOSE PLACES.
UH, FOR ME, I THINK ANYTHING THAT CAN SAVE THE TOWNSHIP MONEY, THIS IS ONE THING THAT IF YOU LOOK AT, IT'S BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, CERTAINLY.
AND ALSO IT'S LESS TRASH IN THE TRASH CANS, CHEAPER TIPPING FEES AT THE LANDFILL, BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND IT'S A VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO, I LIKE THIS IDEA.
UH, SO WE NOW MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING.
MAYOR, BEFORE YOU OPEN IT UP, LET, MAY I JUST SAY A COUPLE WORDS? UM, SORRY TO INTERRUPT THAT, BUT I LOOK AT OUR AGENDA AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT HERE.
WE, BEFORE WE VOTE ON ANYTHING IN THIS TOWN, AND THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER TOWNS THAT I GO TO, THEIR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS RIGHT BEFORE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO EVERYTHING IS VOTED ON, EVERYTHING IS DONE BEFORE THE PUBLIC HAS A CHANCE TO COMMENT.
IN MEDFORD, WE POST THE AGENDA, WE POST THE DETAILS OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
THEY'RE IN THE RED BOOK IN THE BACK, AND THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ALL OF THAT BEFORE WE VOTE ON ANYTHING.
AND I'M PROUD THAT WE DO THAT IN MEDFORD.
I'VE READ SOME STUFF ABOUT WE'RE NOT TRANSPARENT AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE PUT ALL THE STUFF OUT THERE AND EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO COMMENT ON IT BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT.
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Comments limited to five (5) minutes per speaker)]
NOW OPEN IT UP TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR A REGULAR MEETING AND WE WOULD ASK THAT GENERAL DECORUM IS EXHIBITED.UH, PLEASE BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.
MANY VETERANS LOST THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FREE SPEECH AND MANY ARE FIGHTING FOR THOSE FREEDOMS. NOW, HONORING EACH OTHER IS A WAY OF HONORING THEM.
SO PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE ON RECORD ORDINANCE 2020 DASH THREE, WHICH CALLS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN PROPER CONDUCT AND TO AVOID DISTURBING THE PIECE OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE NOTE ALSO THAT THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PUBLICLY COMMENT.
WE AS A COUNCIL WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO YOUR COMMENTS UNTIL AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
SO THIS IS NOT A TIME OF PUBLIC DEBATE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
YOU'LL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE AND YOU'LL BE GIVEN FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK PER SPEAKER.
SO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
AND MR. AL, IF YOU COULD KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME FOR US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? UH, YES, PLEASE.
UM, MY NAME'S KRISTEN FITZGERALD, ONE LIBERTY PLACE, UH, MEDFORD.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MEDFORD YOUTH ASSOCIATION.
UM, FIRST I WANTED TO THANK THE TOWNSHIP IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND RELATIONSHIP WITH NYA.
UH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PARKS AND FACILITIES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE TOWN OF MEDFORD.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, WE'RE A 5 0 1 C3.
WE'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT VOLUNTEER RAN.
WE HAVE 15 DIFFERENT SPORTS THAT WE OFFER COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 7,300 REGISTRANTS AND OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP OUR ORGANIZATION.
UM, WE HAVE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING THE BEST ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCE FOR THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES OF METRO TOWNSHIP IS A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN GROW, LEARN, MAKE FRIENDS, UM, AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE WANNA BE A REASON WHY PEOPLE WANNA LIVE IN WESTFORD.
UM, WITH THAT I WANTED TO THANK MAYOR RESTAFF TOWN COUNCIL DANIEL AL ANGELA SCORZA, AND, UH, LINDSEY
UH, THE FUNDING FOR THIS GRANT ASSISTS MYA
[00:20:01]
IN PARTLY FUNDING THE PROJECT IN WHICH MYA IS FUNDING THE BALANCE, UH, THROUGH FUNDRAISING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.UH, THE, THE TURF FIELD AT PARKER CROSSING IS HOMES FOR METRO FOOTBALL, FIELD HOCKEY BOYS LACROSSE, GIRLS LACROSSE, BLUE STAR LACROSSE.
WE HOST NUMEROUS CLINICS, UH, SUMMER CAMPS, ALL STAR GAMES, PLAYOFFS CHAMPIONSHIPS IS REALLY THE, UH, PINNACLE OF OUR FACILITY THERE.
SO THE LED IS REALLY GONNA HELP US REDUCE LAKE POLLUTION, UH, IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP CUTTER UTILITY COSTS.
AND IT'S GONNA SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE UTILIZATION OF THE FIELD AS WELL AS THE PLAYER SAFETY.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO END WITH THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, HELPING US IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE PARKS.
UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE PROJECT IN JANUARY, WHICH IS, IS RIGHT BETWEEN FOOTBALL AND CROSS SEASON, SO THE TIME
UM, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA, I KNOW MY FRIEND, UH, MIKE ALSO WANTS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT.
I WANTED THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP FOR THAT.
UM, I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND, UH, WE THANKFULLY WE'LL SECURE THAT WAY FUNDING IT OURSELVES IN ORDER TO GET THAT PROJECT DONE.
GOOD EVENING COUNSEL AND THE RESIDENT.
I COME HERE WITH FEW QUESTIONS AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, MR. WATSON, I'M SORRY, COULD YOU, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE? MY NAME IS SING 5 59 MC ROAD.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND YOU SAID WE GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SPEAK, BUT WE CAN ONLY COMMENT AND THERE'S NO RESPONSE.
SO THIS IS JUST SO IT'S NOT A CONVERSATION ON ANY TOPIC 'CAUSE WE'RE JUST SPEAKING AND THERE'S NO FEEDBACK, WHICH IS OKAY, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON ANYTHING.
I JUST WANNA MAKE, NOW THE FIRST THING I WANT BRING UP IS IN FINE BALANCE REVIEW ARTICLE DATED JUNE 19TH, 2025, DAN
WE STARTED OUT WITH 3 MILLION BUDGET GAP BETWEEN ANTICIPATED GOVERNMENT AND EXPENSES.
AND THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THIS GIANT POLL HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT OUR AVAILABLE SURPLUS DECREASED BY 2 MILLION YEAR, YEAR.
I ACTUALLY LOOKED AT ALL THE FINANCIALS.
2021 WE STARTED WITH, UH, UH, WE HAVE A SURPLUS IF YOU TAKE THE FUND BALANCE IN 2021 AND GRAB THE SURPLUS, WE HAVE 7.1 VENUE AND AT THE END OF 2024.
AND ANYTHING FUNNY? YEAH, THANK YOU.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, YEAH, THIS IS FASCINATING.
YES IT IS BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH THE FINANCIALS AND WE ARE AT THE FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW IS 1.67 MILLION.
SO I KNOW YOU SPEND THE MONEY ON THE TOWNSHIP, YOU SPEND MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE LOOK THROUGH THAT ALSO APPARENTLY TO UNDERSTAND THESE FINANCIALS.
WHEN YOU ARE, WHEN WE ASK A QUESTION AS RESIDENTS, WERE HOME.
LOOK AT, WE APPARENTLY NEED A PHD TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
NORMALLY TOWNSHIPS HAVE, YOU KNOW, TOWN HALLS TO DISCUSS THIS, TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC IF, IF THE PUBLIC IS GIVING YOU THEIR MONEY TO SPEND ON SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IN LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE, HOW ARE YOU SPENDING IT? MY NEXT QUESTION, HOW ARE YOUR PROFESSIONALS, YOU KNOW, PICKED UM, KIM PRIME OR THE SOLICITOR, HOW WERE THEY PICKED? WAS THERE AN RFP? DID YOU GET THREE, FOUR RESPONSES? DID WE PICK THE LOWEST BIDDER? WERE THE RESIDENTS EVER CONSULTED? NOW, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I HAVE NOT SEEN, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY IS WHEN COUNCILMAN WATMAN SAID, YOU CAN SPEAK, WE ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK, BUT WE'LL NOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
NOW, ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, FINANCIAL ISSUES, THEN WE ARE FUNDING DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, UH, LOAN PROGRAMS FOR, UH, FOR OA BMCA.
THIS IS BRAD, THEN I UNDERSTAND WE GET AFFECTED BY IT.
BUT MY QUESTION IS WHEN, YOU KNOW, WAS THERE AGAIN A TOWN HALL OR WAS THE PUBLIC INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION MAKING WHEN WE DECIDED TO PUT 1 MILLION TOWARDS RARE REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THAT PEN AND WHO WAS ASKED? NOBODY WAS ASKED.
THEN WE HAVE 2.7 MILLION FOR VARIOUS GENERAL CAPITAL UH, IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT THE RESIDENT EVER TOLD WHAT THAT MONEY WAS USED FOR? THIS IS OUR MONEY.
I LIVE HERE, WE ALL LIVE HERE, BUT
[00:25:01]
THERE IS NO TRANSLATION OF THE ORDINANCE INTO LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE SO ANYONE COULD UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, SO WHY ARE WE INCURRING DEBT FROM, FOR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND HOAS LIKE BMCA? YOU KNOW WHY? WHEN WE ARE CRYING, UH, UH, ABOUT MONEY OURSELVES SAYING WE ARE, WE'LL HAVE THESE DEFICITS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROOF SPEND.NOW ANOTHER MISINFORMATION WE HAVE, WHICH I READ IN FINE BARRS, AGAIN, IT WAS A STATEMENT FROM OUR MAYOR COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE DICKENS FESTIVAL, OCTOBER ULA, YES, YOU PAID PART OF THE COST BY REDUCING THE POLICE SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER TO THE TOWN, BUT NOBODY PAYS FOR THE SPONSORSHIP MONIES GENERATED TO RUN ALL THOSE EVENTS.
YES, YOU GIVE A DISCOUNT ON WHAT YOU CHARGE, YOU CHARGE HALF OF THAT.
BUT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TOWNSHIP PAYS FOR THAT.
THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S MISINFORMATION.
PEOPLE THINK THE TOWN'S PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS.
NOW LET ME TALK ABOUT, UH, UH, THE FLOODING ISSUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDFORD IS REQUIRED TO BUILD A HUNDRED ONE ONE SEVENTY ONE AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
SO THERE'S A PROPOSAL FOR 800 HOMES THAT ARE GONNA BE GOOD.
WHY DID THAT GO FROM 1 71 TO 800 HOMES? AGAIN, LOOK, I AM NOT SAYING YOU ARE WRONG.
I AM SAYING WHERE IS THE COMMUNICATION? BECAUSE ALL I GET TO DO IS STAND HERE AND READ UP MY PROBLEMS AND NO ONE'S RESPONDING TO ME.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY, UH, MA'AM IN THE FRONT.
OKAY, SO WE'RE HERE TO TAKE TALK TO ABOUT THE PROPERTY.
UM, AND THIS PROBLEM, WE, WE HAVE TALKED THREE DEPART PROBLEM.
SO OUR PROPERTY HAS BE BECAUSE EXCESS WATER AND FLOODING EVERY TIME THERE'S LOT COMING THROUGH THE SMALL STREAM PROPERTY.
UM, THE MAIN SOURCE OF THE WATER IS THAT THEY HAVE PIPES THAT WHICH GOES ONTO THE SIDE EAST INTO THE, ON OUR PROPERTY, DOWN THE LAKE.
UM, BEEN THERE SINCE 19 AND THE ED, UM, AND UH, EVER SINCE NETFLIX UPDATED THEIR DRAINS, THEY HAD A COLLECTION, UH, STATION, SOME SORT OF A DRAIN THERE BEFORE THEY UPDATED IT.
THEY REPLACED THE PIPES AND NOW IT'S DIRECTLY DUMP.
SO, UM, SO THEY PIPE TO ABOUT 1216 MACHINE TER AND ALL GAS OUR YARD, THERE ARE TWO PARTS PUT IN MAXIMUM TER PIPE TODAY.
THESE BEEN DECADES NOW, I THINK THEY ALSO IN RISES AND JUMPS ABOVE THE WALL'S BRICK WALL, LIKE IN 2016, IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE WATER WAS COMING UP TOWARDS THE HOUSE THAT IT ACTUALLY HAD MET HER TOWNSHIP MET HER LAKES AND MY MOM HAD ALL PUT TOGETHER THE MONEY AND WE BUILT A BULKHEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET.
BUT IT'S GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ASIDE.
IT'S MORE LIKE A RIVER RUNNING ACROSS OUR PROPERTY AND INTO THE LAKE.
SO I BELIEVE IN SPRING OF 2024, WE HAD A ENGINEER AND A COUPLE OF COME LOOK AT THE ISSUE.
UM, THEY SAW THE PROBLEM AND INSPECT THE PIPES, UH, USING, LET THEM KNOW SO THAT THEY COULD, ANY WORK THAT WOULD
[00:30:01]
BE NEEDED, BUT NO UP.UM, WE WERE TOLD WAS NOT SINCE THEN.
AND NOT THIS THERE PIPE, THIS ONE HAS SEE BE SO YOU COLLAPSED OR SOME SOMETHING GOING ON THERE.
UM, SO THE ALSO AGREED THAT UNDERMINE CAN SEE FALLS.
SO JUST INSPECT NECESSARY PIPE.
SO CONTROL AS TODAY, INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT, IF YOU'RE VERY, SEE YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE VIDEO COMPUTER, BUT I CAN SHOW IF YOU WANT MY PHONE GOING THROUGH THE YARD.
I ALSO WENT AROUND TO LAKE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET AND IT USED TO BE A GIGANTIC STORM DRAIN OVER THERE.
BUT THEY HAVE SINCE CLOSED THAT OFF.
THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER OVER THERE TOLD ME THAT ALL THE PIPES ON HIS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY ARE ALL ATED.
BUT I'VE NOTICED AS I'VE WALKED AROUND METRO LAKE, WHICH ARE ALL THE PIPES ARE STILL THERE AND THEY'RE ALL POURING INTO THAT GIGANTIC OR WHATEVER WORLD OF DRAIN WATER IS POURING IN AND ON TOP OF THE, UM, STREAM, I TOOK PEYTON, LOTS OF PICTURES OF HIM SAYING, OH, THERE'S NO WATER THERE.
BUT YES, IT'S OVERFLOWING ON THAT SIDE OF THE PROPERTY GOING THROUGH THERE.
THERE'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER AND NO ONE CLEARED OUT THE DRAIN ON, UM, SOUTH LAKE SIDE DRIVE EAST ON METRO LAKE SIDE.
SO I CLEARED THAT OUT AND THE WATER'S JUST POURING THROUGH THERE.
I THINK SOMETIME THIS YEAR, METRO TOWNSHIP CAME ALONG AND THEY PUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF STOVES ON THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY NEXT TO THE STREET.
LIKE THERE'S A BULKHEAD THERE AND THEN THERE'S THE STONES AND THEN THE STREET.
I HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE STONES ARE SINKING.
SO IT'S COME DOWN ONE TO THREE INCHES.
THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED SINKING.
THE GUY TOLD ME IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN, BUT IT'S OKAY.
SO MY NAME IS CAROL SWANSON AND I RESIDE IN, UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS AN ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA.
ITEM 11, WHICH IS A, AN AMENDED ORDINANCE 2025.
I WAS HERE AND SPOKE TO THAT ORDINANCE AT YOUR LAST MEETING WHERE WE POINTED OUT NOT JUST ME, BUT OTHERS, BUT THERE WERE $2 AMOUNTS APPEARING IN THAT ORDINANCE THAT WERE NOT, AT LEAST BY WHAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN ON THE FIRST MEETING.
AND I BELIEVE THE BOARD TOOK OF NO ACTION IN INCLUDING THAT ORDINANCE UNTIL IT AMENDED, WHICH IS ALL THOUGH AND GOOD.
HOWEVER, CONTRARY TO WHAT MR. WATSON HAS SAID, WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK AT THE REVISED AMENDED ORDINANCE.
WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE REQUESTED IT, IT WOULDN'T BE POSTED.
AND IN FACT, IT WAS NOT POSTED.
WE WERE TOLD BY PHONE CALL I HAVE THAT RECORDED MESSAGE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SEE THAT ORDINANCE OR THAT REVISED ORDINANCE AS IT ONLY INCLUDED FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
AND SPECIFICALLY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THIS MEETING AND ANY ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN IN ORDER TO EVEN SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE WHITE NUMBER SHOULD BE ACTUALLY MADE THEIR WAY INTO THAT ORDINANCE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN KEEPING WITH WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S NOT, IT'S NOT AS I UNDERSTAND IT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING LAWS REQUIRE.
AND AS I STAND HERE NOW, I STILL HAVE SEEN WHAT YOU MAY HAVE IN FRONT OF ME.
IT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
[00:35:01]
OUR FULL COMMUNITY, UH, 20 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE ONLY THING LEFT IS, WHAT'S THE WRITTEN WORD? ME STANDING HERE AND WHAT I SAY, OH, THAT FIVE $2,000 THAT APPEARS IN THERE WAS A MISTAKE.THAT ORDINANCE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS SEE CAN DOUBLE CHECK AND COMMENT ON.
THE TWO MISTAKES WERE NOT MINOR, AT LEAST IS HOW THEY AFFECT OUR WE'RE 55 HOMEOWNERS RED MILL, CONTRARY TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INTO ORDINANCE.
NO PUBLIC MONIES ARE GOING INTO THAT.
THAT IS ALL OUT OF THE POCKETS OF THE HOMEOWNERS.
THAT'S OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
WHAT THIS COMMUNITY, WHAT MEDFORD HAS AGREED TO DO IS SECURE THAT WITH THEIR GUARANTEE THAT IF WE FAILED TO PAY THAT LOAN THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT FOR CONSTRUCTION ON THE DAM, THEN THE TOWN WILL STEP IN, BUT THEY'RE GONNA RECOUP IT FROM THE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE IMPROVED BY THAT.
SO THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN ORDINANCE ABOUT WHAT'S COMING OUTTA EVERYBODY IN TOWN'S POCKET, BUT WHAT'S COMING OUTTA OUR POCKET IF IN 15 YEARS IT'S A DIFFERENT BOARD AT THE MCA AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION IN THE LOAN, YOU STEP IN, YOU PAY IT.
BUT WE COME TO US, THE TWO BIG NUMBERS WERE $1,862,000 APPEARING ON PAGE THREE OR FOUR OF THE, OF THE ORDINANCE.
THAT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1 MILLION OH 45, MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT I CAN'T SEE, I CAN'T SEE IT'S RIGHT.
I CAN'T OFFER YOU LIKE YES, I CAN ONLY GET, I CAN ONLY GET, FOR SOME REASON I SHOULDN'T SEE IT AND THAT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.
AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE WHAT THE SITUATION WE'RE BEING PUT INTO.
THE OTHER NUMBER WAS 5,000 THAT AS THE UH, SECTION 48, 2 DASH 20, THOSE NUMBERS DON'T ROLL OFF TONGUE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE, THEY WERE SPECIFIC COSTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE FOUR, IS THAT WHAT SHOWS UP IN AT OR I HOPE YOU IT AND THE FORM THAT WAS HELD OUT IN THE FIRST MEETING PULLED BACK FROM THE SECOND MEETING AND SHOULD BE HERE.
BUT IT'S REALLY WRONG OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE BOARD THIS COUNCIL TO NOT ALLOW RESIDENTS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE VOTING ON.
IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE.
I CAME HERE TONIGHT, I CAN'T EVEN SEE IT BEFORE THE MEETING.
SO PLEASE DON'T LET THAT BE THE WAY THIS GOES.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE YOU HAVE THAT.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.
I KNOW YOU ASKED US TO COMMENT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT WAS CLOSED, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT THIS ORDINANCE GET PULLED FROM THE AGENDA BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HASN'T HAD THIS, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT.
PROCESS, ORDINANCE, UH, MEETINGS ADOPTED.
THE IDEA OF THAT IS FIRST MEETING ORDINANCE INTERVIEW.
SO WHAT THE COUNCIL IS VOTING ON TONIGHT IS FOR HEARING BEFORE IT'S A BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING.
SO YOU HAVE A MONTH THEN TO REVIEW THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY THE RIGHT REVIEW THE ORDINANCE AND COME IN WE TO MAKE ABOUT IT.
THE IDEA IS THAT BEFORE IT'S INTRODUCED, IT COULD BE CHANGED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR BY THE COUNCIL.
SO WE DON'T PUBLICIZE IT IN ADVANCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT FINALIZED.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY GET COUNCIL INTRODUCE IT.
SO THAT'S THE IDEA WE INTRODUCE TONIGHT, SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE WEBSITE PUBLISH.
IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY SEND NOTICE TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER,
AND YOU, YOU, UM, SUMMARIZE THE NOT PUBLIC MONEY INVOLVED REQUIRE TO DO THAT.
THE IDEA IS TO LIST IT FOR INTRODUCTION.
NOW AFTER THE COUNCIL INTRODUCES IT TONIGHT IT BECOME PUBLIC COMMENT NOVEMBER.
THAT'S THE IDEA, BUT THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT.
THAT'S WHY IT TAKES TWO READING.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE LAW.
THAT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU WERE TOLD WHEN WE WERE HERE AT THE LAST MEETING LAST MONTH, WE WERE TOLD THAT YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON ANYTHING.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
SO THAT'S, I THINK I WASN'T HEAR, BUT I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE MEETING.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE IDEA OF A DOOR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
IT COULDN'T BE ADOPTED THE WAY IT WORKS.
IT COULD, YOU KNOW, IT CAN'T BE ADOPTED TONIGHT ON SECOND MEETING BECAUSE
[00:40:01]
IT CHANGED.SO HAVE REINTRODUCE IT, GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN, AND THEN IN NOVEMBER CONSIDER SO WE'RE STARTING OVER, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WERE TOLD.
WELL, WE SHOULDN'T BE EXCLUDED FROM SEEING SOMETHING AS I WALK IN THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR MAIL.
WELL, YES YOU SHOULD BECAUSE IT COULD BE CHANGED UP UNTIL THE, UP UNTIL THE MEETING TONIGHT COULD BE CHANGED.
SO IF IT DOESN'T BECOME PUBLIC UNTIL WE, THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY ACTUALLY IT UNTIL THEY INTRODUCE IT, IT'S A NON, IT'S A NON-LEGAL THING.
AND ONCE IT'S INTRODUCED, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE TONIGHT, THEN IT BECOMES A PUBLIC DOCUMENT THEN BECOMES READY FOR PUBLIC.
SO IT'S I NOVEMBER MEETING WHEN, SO SIXTH, SIXTH, NOVEMBER 6TH, THE ELECTION'S.
NOVEMBER 4TH WAS
AND IN FACT IN YOUR CASE YOU GUYS, IT'S EVEN DIFFERENT THE ORDINARILY WHAT THE ORDER BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY GET A LETTER TELL AND YOU CAN COME IN NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU THAT THAT EXPLANATION TELLS ME IT'S A RESET, WHICH WAS NOT THE IMPRESSION THAT WAS AT LEAST ORDINARILY HE WOULD REINTRODUCE IT AS A BRAND NEW ORDINANCE.
BUT WE AMENDED SO THAT WE COULD DO THE NOTICES TO YOU GUYS AND STILL HAVE IT DONE IN NOVEMBER.
OTHERWISE IT WOULD TAKE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS THING DOWN.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION ON, ON THAT.
THE ONLY REASON WE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE MS. SWANSON SWANSON.
SAW THE ORDINANCE LAST TIME, SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY SHE COULDN'T SEE IT THIS TIME, BUT I UNDERSTAND SHE'S GONNA HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT AND COMMENTED ON IT BEFORE WE ACTUALLY VOTE ON ADOPTING IT.
WELL, LAST MEETING WAS SECOND MEETING, SO THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING LAST MEETING I THOUGHT LAST.
UH, SO WE WENT ALL THE WAY BACK.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPLANATION.
WE WENT IN TO GET SOMETHING BEFORE LAST WEEKEND.
SHE'S GOTTA STOP TALKING FROM THE AUDIENCE.
WELL, WE DO HAVE, BECAUSE IT COULD CHANGE.
WE DON'T WANT THINGS GOING OUT IN RAT FORM.
I IT OKAY, I'M NOT GONNA COME TO THE MEETING.
SO THE CLERK'S OFFICE EXPLAIN THAT.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE REQUEST.
WE DON'T WANT, WE DON'T WANT DOCUMENTS THAT DON'T, ARE AREN'T, HAVEN'T BEEN ACTUALLY DONE.
ACTED ALL BY THE COUNCIL BEFORE.
13 BRAD STREET IN THE VILLAGE.
I JUST WANT TO ADD A COUPLE WORDS TO THE, UH, SKIP STUFF CAMPAIGN.
I'M A MEMBER OF BOTH THE AAC AND THE GREEN TEAM AND WE REALLY SUPPORT THIS ACTIVITY.
WE SEE THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT'S DONE BY ALL THE UNWANTED STUFF AND AS A CITIZEN, I ORDER OF FOOD POTENTIALLY TOO FREQUENTLY, BUT I OFTEN TELL THEM DON'T PUT ANYTHING IN.
AND GUESS WHAT, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S STILL THERE BECAUSE IT'S JUST ROUTINE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE BUSINESSES WOULD NOT BE GLAD TO GET RID OF THIS EXPENSE, OPEN TERMS OF BUYING THIS STUFF AS WELL AS THE TIME TO PLACE IT.
ALL US ON THOSE TWO, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
NEW THAT CANDIDATE, UH, KNOW ABOUT THIS MEETING.
UH, SECOND IS A COUPLE MONTH AGO WE HAVE A
HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONCERN ABOUT THAT? OKAY.
AND UH, UH, FOR HAVING, UH, HAVING ME AS A GUEST, ONE OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, FOR THE, FOR
IT'S POSSIBLE FOR MEDICAL CONFERENCE TO HAVE A-U-E-V-I ENTERPRISE.
DO YOU THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE? WE DON'T WANT, THE COUNCILSHIP DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR OWN ENTERPRISE ZONING THAT APPLIES TO CERTAIN UNITS OF
[00:45:01]
CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL.WE DON'T WOULDN'T SAY SALES TAX.
I KNOW EXACTLY THE 3% OR THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR EVERYONE AND WILL BE, AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR ME SAFE AND THANK AND, AND I WOULD THINK TO SEE THAT PERSON BY HERE, THE PERSON SEE FOR A YEAR.
MY NAME IS MIKE REY FROM 2 21 OUTSIDE ROAD RECORD.
I'M, UH, CURRENTLY THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, THE HOCKEY COMMISSIONER.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, MAYOR, REP AND COUNCIL, COUNCIL AND BEN HORNICK AND HIS TEAM FOR SECURING THE BOND TO IMPROVE THE HOCKEY FACILITY AND ADD ANOTHER BREAK.
THAT'S THAT WE'RE PAYING BACK EVERY PENNY AND INTEREST THE BOND.
WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
THERE'S BEEN, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM OUR TEAM, WE'VE ADDED SOME NUMBERS UP.
THERE'S BEEN OVER 5,000 PEOPLE ROUGHLY THAT'S COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND, AND OVER THE YEARS AND, AND IT'S, WE REALLY ENJOYED DEVELOPING YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN AND BOYS AND GIRLS TO UNDERSTAND SPORTSMANSHIP AND TEAM CONCEPTS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT SPORTS PROVIDE OUTSIDE OF LIKE SCHOOL AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL THING.
WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS GOING FORTH AND THAT ON.
I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYBODY AND PUBLICLY THANK YOU GUYS.
AND SO THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, VERY GRATEFUL.
ANYONE ELSE? OH, BRIAN CAR TWO 16, CHECK YOUR, ARE YOU DOING COUNSEL? UM, I'M UP HERE.
I GUESS FIRST, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, JEN LEFT.
SHE HAS SPOKE BRIEFLY ON RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS ABOUT AND FORTH AND, UM, I I MEAN, I I GUESS I'LL GET RIGHT.
SO WHEN YOU GUYS WERE, UM, HIRING YOUR NEW MANAGER HERE, DID YOU KNOW THAT HIM AND PRIME'S SONS HAVE DONE BUSINESS TOGETHER BEFORE? NO.
WHAT IS KCH TWO LLC? THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM OUT THERE THAT, UM, THAT YOUR MANAGER'S TIED TO.
IT'S A CONSULTANT FIRM AND I BELIEVE HIM AND HIS WIFE, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT OF
IT'S NOT JUST THROWING STUFF AT THE WALL.
I WONDERED EARLY ON HOW DID OUR COURT CASE WITH MY MOM AND THAT, THAT 10,000 FINE END UP IN, IN CUMIN CUMMIN'S GOT ONE OF THE SMALLEST COURTS IN THE COUNTY.
ONCE COMPER ME, IT USUALLY GOES TO MORTON.
UM, AND I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THE RELATIONSHIP, YOUR SOLICITOR ASKED FOR ENHANCED PENALTIES, HE WOULD'VE HAD SOME DIRECTION OF WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE HELD.
AND HER, AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE OVER THERE IN BERTON.
THE JUDGE OVER THERE WE'RE NOT IN HIS TOWN.
WHY, WHY WOULD HE EVEN CARE? BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT, SO YOU START REALLY LOOKING AT IT DURING COVID IN 2020, RIGHT? WE CHANGED, WE REZONED THE NORTH SIDE, WHICH I'M STILL KIND OF CONFUSED.
WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? IS IT ALL ZONED THE SAME? NOW IS MY PROPERTY THE SAME AS INGERS, UH, OR ANY OF THESE OTHER SELLERS? OR WAS IT SPOT ZONING, MEANING YOU POPPED IN ONE AREA AND YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE THAT VALUABLE, BUT YOU KIND OF LEAVE THE REST OF US OUT.
UM, SO WE DO THAT IN 2020 DOOR LOCKDOWN.
GUESS WHAT OTHER TOWN DOES THAT DOOR LOCK DOWN IN 2020 COUNT.
AND, UH, I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND REALLY THINK AT THIS POINT YOU GUYS ARE, YOU GOT BUILDERS HERE.
I MEAN, CAN I ADD, DAN, DO YOU, DO YOU MAKE MONEY AS A CONSULTANT FOR ANY OF THE BUILDERS?
[00:50:03]
I MEAN, THAT'S AN EASY QUESTION.WE, WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING THAT WE WOULD HOLD OFF COMMENTING UNTIL THE END.
UM, WELL IS IT TRUE THAT HIS SUMPS HAVE DONE BUSINESS WITH DAN BEFORE HE CAME HERE AS THE MANAGER? IT CONCERNS ME GUYS.
IT REALLY DOES BECAUSE WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS, IS THAT LITERALLY YOU GUYS COUNSEL, I, I AT LEAST THINK MAYBE ONE OR TWO UP HERE.
UH, WERE MISLED AND YOU HAD A BUNCH OF APPLICANTS, I KNOW AT LEAST ONE WAS, WAS A, WAS A LOT BETTER THAN COME SOMEBODY COMING OUT OF EMBER WITH, WITH ALL THESE LAWSUITS.
AND APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT JUST CAME DOWN TO FILING BILLS FROM THEIR LAWYER UNDER, I DON'T KNOW.
SO THE TAXPAYERS DIDN'T SEE IT.
THAT'S WHAT DOUG WROTE ON THE PAPER.
BUT I HOPE YOU GUYS DO LOOK INTO THIS.
THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT LLCS, ONE'S IN FLORIDA, ONE'S IN TOMS RIVER, AND I BELIEVE THE ONE IN FLORIDA'S LINKED TO TO MARYLAND SEEMS LIKE THE SAME KIND OF THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH LIKE EVEN THE NEW BREWERY THAT OPENED UP.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN LLCI IN LC, BUT I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.
AND I WOULD THINK THAT, UM, YOU GUYS HOPEFULLY, I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE, UH,
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY UPSET ABOUT THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, VERY FEW PEOPLE UP HERE EVEN KNEW THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, I DON'T THINK COUNSEL WAS INVOLVED IN IT COULD BE WRONG.
IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY HAS ENOUGH POWER TO CAN SOMEBODY.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S DONE A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY APPARENTLY.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF YOU GUYS GOT A SOLICITOR AND A TOWNSHIP MANAGER JUST DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHOUT EVEN CHECKING WITH YOU GUYS 32ND, RIGHT? UM, THEN, THEN GOD HELP US OFF.
ESPECIALLY THE NEXT YEAR COMING IN.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M HEARING FROM EMMAN, MOUNT MOUNT PARTY'S DEAL, UM, WHICH DAN WAS, WAS WRAPPED UP IN, WAS UM, SORT OF LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD AS FAST AS THEY CAN AND AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE.
WE'RE GONNA GET HOMES, WE'RE GONNA GET DEVELOPMENTS, BUT WHY DON'T WE GET OUR HIGH BRIDGE OVER THERE? OUR SHARE FARMS, OUR DEER PROGRAM.
I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE REALLY LISTENING 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL RESIDENTS HERE AND THIS CONCERNS WHETHER YOU ARE IN ELECTED IN OFFICE OR NOT.
THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY SKETCHY STUFF AND MAYBE WE CAN FACT CHECK SOME OF THE STUFF.
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? NO, PLEASE.
UM, I JUST, I NEED TO COME UP HERE AND COMMENT ON THE IRONY OF LAUDING, THE OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY OF HAVING PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED THAT ARE, THAT YOU POINT TO THE PUBLICATION OF AGENDAS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS YOUR, AS THE, AS PROOF THAT YOU'RE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.
THOSE ARE REQUIREMENTS AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU FILL THE BARE MINIMUM.
I'VE BEEN UP HERE AND I'VE ASKED YOU MULTIPLE TIMES AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID TODAY, THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE PLAIN LANGUAGE CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE ORDINANCES THAT YOU'RE PASSING.
AND YOU DO NOTHING TO PUBLISH THAT STUFF.
YOU DO NOTHING TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ON FACEBOOK PAGE OR ANY OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA.
THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT STATEMENT THAT HEY, THESE, THESE REQUIRED STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO DO ARE EVIDENCE OF OUR TRANSPARENCY AND OUR OPENNESS.
THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC DEBATE.
THERE'S NEVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO BE, I'VE BEEN ON A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING THAT'S BEEN GREAT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU AND HAVE A BACK AND FORTH THAT IS SUSTAINED AND ONGOING AND PROPERLY ADDRESSES THEIR CONCERNS.
YOU'VE EXPRESSED NO INTEREST IN DOING THAT.
YOU GET TESTY AND PETTY WHEN PEOPLE POINT THAT OUT AND I, EVERY TIME THAT GETS BROUGHT UP, I'M GONNA COME UP HERE AND CALL YOU ON IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IS CALLING YOU ON THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T SAY WE'RE DOING A BARE MINIMUM.
AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS.
[00:55:01]
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARY HECKLER.I LIVE IN 2 3 1 MOUNT HOLLY ROAD.
AND FIRST OFF, I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA HERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION OR I'M CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING.
THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY IN NUMBER 17 BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL ITEMS THAT ARE ENACT BY ONE MOTION AND THAT ONE JUST SAYS APPROVING OR DENY.
AND THE APPROVAL FOR THE, OKAY.
AND BY LAW, THE ZONING BOARD APPROVE THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE NO DATA RESOLUTION WAS PREPARED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, HOW THE COUNCIL WAS GONNA VOTE TONIGHT.
SO WHEN YOU'RE VOTING, YOU WERE GONNA KNOW WHETHER YOU PROVE OR DENY.
YEAH, I HAVE UH, ACTUALLY ANOTHER QUESTION.
I, I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE CRANBERRY HALL SENIOR CITIZEN, WHICH I REALLY ENJOYING AND AS I KEEP DRIVING DOWN CHARLES STREET, I SEE THE UM, MAGNIFIED BREWERY.
SPECIFICALLY A QUESTION ABOUT THAT TACO TRUCK THAT'S THERE NOW, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ALL THE BREWERIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL FOOD OR HAVE ANY FOOD ON THEM.
HOW IS IT THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE A PERMANENT TACO TRUCK? IT ISN'T LIKE THE FOOD NIGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE THIRD THURSDAY THEY LEGISLATE THE LAW, HAVE FOOD VENDOR PROVIDE FOOD, NOT IN THE BREWERY BUT ON THE BREWERY PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S A STATE LAW THEY ALLOWED NO, IT DIDN'T NOW ALLOWED TO PRESUMABLY HELP THE, THAT'S THE STATE.
SO ANY OTHER BREWERY HERE IN TOWN, IF THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY, IF THEY HAVE A PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE MOVED INTO GAS, OTHER HEALTH FOOD LICENSE REQUIRED FIRE FOOD, THAT KIND OF THING.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK.
I MEAN, PRESUMABLY IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE AVAILABLE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE IS LIKE HEALTH AND ABSOLUTELY.
SO DOES MEDFORD AND WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE, TOWNSHIP COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE JURISDICTION.
IT'S NOT SO WHO HAS JURISDICTION OF MAKING SURE THAT THE WHATEVER PROPANE TANKS AREN'T GONNA OR PROPERLY? I THINK CAPTAIN, I MEANT COUNT BUYER.
THAT JUST SEEMS RATHER TRIP TRICKY 'CAUSE I BOUGHT A BREWERY IS THE WHOLE ALL ITS PROPERTY.
SO THEY'RE SAYING SO THAT ANY, ANY OTHER BREWERY THAT HAS LIKE ONE PARKING SPACE RIGHT THERE, THEY COULD PUT A, A FOOD STAMP UP.
THEY COULD CONTRACT WITH A FOOD TRUCK.
SO THAT'S, UH, A SEPARATE TRUCK THAT'S, THAT'S BUT IT'S LIKE ADVERTISED ON THEIR WEBSITE.
JUST SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE TO ME.
UM, SO I'M JUST REITERATING SAID AND PLEASE THERE THINGS OVER HERE THAT THE ORDINANCE, THAT UNDER UH, PROPOSAL, WHATEVER, UM, BUT WE'D LIKE TO, WE'D LIKE TO AS A TOWN TAX PLAYER, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MY TAX WILL GO UP WITH THIS.
UM, AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS IF YOU DO HAVE TO THE THE LOAN, UH, WILL THEY ALSO
[01:00:01]
TAKE OVER THE PRIVATE PROPERTY? OKAY.ULTIMATELY IF A PRIVATE USES PUBLIC PHONE, IT THEN HAVE TO BE THIS ORDINANCE THOUGH MM-HMM.
ALLOWED THE COUNTY IN THAT EVENT TO WEAN THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY.
SO THE PUBLIC FUNDS NEVER SO OUR TAXES WON.
GO UP TAX ONE THING TELL YOU, OKAY, WHAT ELSE GOING ON
IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S FOR.
OKAY, ISN'T THAT TYPICALLY ON THE BALLOT? NO.
NO, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN OPEN SPACE BEFORE IN THE BALLOT.
THE OPEN SPACE TAX APPROVED BY AND THAT MONEY ACCUMULATED IN THIS CASE WE HELD 50% FROM.
AND LASTLY, ONE OF, UH, AREA I SEE ON RESOLUTION ONE AUTHORIZING REFUND OF 2025 TAX OVERPAY ARE PAYMENT REFUND THEN? UM, TYPICALLY IT'S TYPICALLY WHERE, UM, THE MORTGAGE COMPANY PAYS AND SOMEBODY MOVES.
ANY MORTGAGE COMPANY IS OVERPAID SO THEY'RE ENTITLED TO A REFUND.
'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES MORTGAGE COMPANY COLLECTS TAXES FROM THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT AND REMITS IT.
SO THAT'S WHAT ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
OPPOSED? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED, BUT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? SO, UM, MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND AND BUDGETING TONIGHT AND UM, UH, WE HAD A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING.
I WANNA SAY THAT WAS AROUND JUNE 6TH AND IN A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING.
IT WAS BEFORE THE BUDGET WAS INTRODUCED AND WE, WE DID A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF SLIDES AND, UM, SLIDES 12 AND 13 OF THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WERE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
ONE WAS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE SECOND WAS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES.
AND, UH, ACCORDING TO THOSE SLIDES, WE LISTED EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD INTENDED TO DO IN PREPARING THIS YEAR'S BOND ORDINANCES.
SO AS WE INDICATED ON JUNE 6TH, WE PUT ASIDE $200,000 FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS TO KIRBY'S DAM.
UM, WE HAD 583,000 SET ASIDE FOR THE 2025 ROAD PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO 536,000 IN MUNICIPAL AID.
THAT WAS AVAILABLE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
WE, WE FUNDED THE BALANCE OF THE A HUNDRED FOOT LADDER TRUCK IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,150,000.
WE SET ASIDE 121,500 REPAIRS FOR, UH, FACILITY REPAIRS AND PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT.
ANOTHER 120,000 FOR POLICE EQUIPMENT AND A VEHICLE.
AND THEN 25,000 FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING, UH, OFFICE SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT WAS FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
ALL THIS WAS EMBODIED INTO THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED AND THEN A MONTH LATER HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON FOR THE UTILITIES FUND.
WE FUNDED $250,000 FOR WELLS THREE AND SIX FOR THE REHABILITATIONS, $250,000 FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF WATER METER REPLACEMENTS.
AND WE NOTED THAT WOULD BE A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT, 882,500 FOR WATER MAIN UPGRADES TO INCLUDE, UH, TWO STREETS IN LAKE PINE AT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO, UH, 400,000 FOR SEWER MAIN RELINING 117,500 FOR UTILITY EQUIPMENT, UTILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND, AND VEHICLE.
AND THEN, UH, FOR THE WATER MAIN PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING, ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ROAD REPAVING OF THOSE, THOSE LOCATIONS.
SO, UM, THE, UM, ADDITIONALLY EVERY YEAR, UM, AROUND MIDDLE OF MIDDLE TO LATE OCTOBER, WE PUBLISH ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONAL
[01:05:01]
SERVICES, RF, QS, RFPS, THEY'RE ALL DISTRIBUTED TO TOWNSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR FEEDBACK ON WHO SHOULD BE SELECTED.UM, AND THE OTHER ITEM THERE, UM, TOWNSHIP EVENTS, THERE'S ANOTHER RESOLUTION ON TONIGHT CONFIRMING THE COST SHARING.
SO THE TOWN HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, THOSE EVENTS BENEFIT THE TOWN AS MUCH AS THEY BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HOSTING THEM.
AND I THINK IT'S A PRETTY FAIR SPLIT THAT WE SHARE THE EXPENSE BECAUSE WE ALL BENEFIT FROM IT.
THEY ARE TOWNSHIP WIDE EVENTS AND IF WE HAD TO SOLELY DO 'EM, WE'D EITHER HAVE TO CUT BACK ON A NUMBER OF EVENTS OR NOT DO 'EM.
SO THOSE ARE JUST MY COMMENTS TO THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
COULD I ALSO, COULD YOU ALSO EXPLAIN HOW THE PUBLIC WAS INFORMED ABOUT ANY OF THOSE BUDGET MEETINGS WHEN IT WAS DISCUSSED? YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO PUBLISH NOTIFICATIONS AND WE ALSO PUBLISH WHAT WE CAN ON, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.
SO IF WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB RAMPING UP SOCIAL MEDIA FOR, FOR MORE BUDGET STUFF, WE'LL ADD THAT TO, UH, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING ABOUT THE FOOD TRUCKS.
ANY BREWERY CAN HAVE A FOOD TRUCK IF THEY HAVE THE PROPER SETBACK.
LIKE IT CAN'T BE UP NEXT TO A BUILDING, IT'S GOTTA HAVE PROPER SETBACKS.
AND THEY NEED A FOOD HANDLER'S LICENSE FROM MEDFORD TOWNSHIP AND NEED TO BE INSPECTED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GET A FIRE PERMIT FROM MEDFORD TOWNSHIP AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT TOO CLOSE OR IN A PLACE, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, ET CETERA.
SO, AND LIKE MR. PRINE SAID, THAT'S A STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE IT, BUT WE IMPLEMENT IT BY HAVING INSPECTIONS AND SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE VOLUNTEERS OF MYAA FOR ALL THAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IT'S A 5 0 1 C3, IT'S ITS OWN ENTITY, BUT WHAT IT PROVIDES TO OUR TOWN IS A GREAT ASSET TO THE FAMILIES HERE.
SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING TONIGHT.
UM, AND I WANTED TO THANK ED TENTOFF AND ZACH FOR THEIR, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SUBCOMMITTEES.
I THINK BEING INVOLVED IN OUR TOWN OUTSIDE OF POTENTIALLY COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS OR THE EVENTS THAT WE HOLD, IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH YOU ON THOSE LEVELS.
UM, AND TO MR. NIC'S POINT, UM, THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST RESIDENTS UP HERE.
UM, IT'S OUR TAX DOLLARS AS WELL THAT WE'RE SPENDING, WE'RE APPROPRIATING.
AND, UM, I WAS PERSONALLY APPALLED THAT, UM, NO ONE CAME TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME PREPARING THESE BUDGETS.
UM, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENT SINCE THESE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
BUT, UM, TO HEAR JUST A PORTION OF THIS MR. HORNICK MENTIONED TODAY, I THINK THERE WAS A, ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF MEETING THAT WE HAD, UM, THAT WAS PREPARED WELL IN ADVANCE BY MR. NIKAL AND OUR CFO AND THE ENTIRE STAFF, THAT THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF TAKING A CHALLENGING BUDGET YEAR AND STILL PROVIDING A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS TO US AS RESIDENTS.
SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND, UM, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THESE BUDGET MEETINGS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEY'RE VERY INFORMATIVE AND I THINK THEY ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS PROACTIVELY AND POTENTIALLY GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME INPUT AND SOME SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BUDGET WELL BEFORE IT'S ADOPTED RATHER THAN WELL AFTER IT'S BEEN ADOPTED.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH WHAT MIKE JUST SAID.
UM, IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING THAT WE, WE WORK HARD.
THE TOWNSHIP TRIES TO DO THEIR BEST WITH THE BUDGET AND NOBODY EVEN COMES TO TALK WITH US TO GO OVER THE BUDGET.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO AN EXTRA MEETING SOMETIMES WE ALSO DO A, A THIRD MEETING ON A SATURDAY AND WE COME OUT AND, AND NO ONE'S HERE TO, TO ASK US ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WE DO TRY HARD AND AS MIKE SAID, WE'RE RESIDENTS TOO.
SO THOSE TAXES AFFECT EACH ONE OF US AS WELL.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS MEETING? MINIMUM NOTIFICATIONS, GUYS.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS MEETING AT THE LAST MEETING I WAS AT AND I GOT A MAIL.
HOW'D YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT ONE? SEND OUT SOMETHING IN THE MAIL, REACH OUT IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE, DO YOU WANT PEOPLE THERE? YES.
WHERE IS IT POSTED THERE? BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES.
AND IT'S POSTED AT THE, THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
IT'S POSTED AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING WEBSITE.
IT'S THERE IF YOU WANNA FIND IT.
[01:10:01]
RIGHT.AND IF YOU WANT PEOPLE, IF YOU WANT REACH WHERE THEY'RE, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP ON THE WEBSITE.
YOU CAN SIGN UP TO GET AN EMAIL.
I MEAN, THERE ISN'T AN EMAIL LIST.
SO IF YOU GO ON THAT, THEN YOU WILL BE REMINDED.
WE'D LOVE TO SEE EVERYONE COME TO OUR BUDGET MEETINGS AND I'D LOVE TO SEE MAIL OUT SOMETHING TO THE POPULATION OR COSTLY.
IT'S TOO COSTLY TODAY TO, TO DO MAIL.
FIVE, $6,000 TO DO A SIMPLE LETTER.
YEAH, WE COULDN'T DO MAIL, BUT GO ONTO THE WEBSITE, SIGN UP SO YOU GET AUTOMATIC EMAILS.
OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, MANAGER'S
[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]
REPORT PLEASE.UM, I HAVE A, I HAVE THREE ITEMS, UH, THREE NEW VOLUNTEERS FOR COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
GABRIELA VELO NEW, UH, EMS VOLUNTEER MEMBER AT STATION 2 58.
UM, ELIANA MARIE JUG, NEW JUNIOR FIRE AND EMS VOLUNTEER FOR STATIONS 2 51 AND 2 58.
AND THEN, UH, JACOB SCHILLINGER, UH, NEW FIREFIGHTER VOLUNTEER AT STATION 2 51.
SO I'D ASK COUNCIL'S AND, AND BY THE WAY, THE, ALL THREE OF THEM ARE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS, LONG TIME TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS, SO I'D ASK COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER UPDATES TO SHARE.
UM, FIRST, UM, EVERY YEAR OR SO WE PROVIDE COUNSEL WITH AN UP UPDATED MOU BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE MYAA.
BUT SOMETHING THAT OFTEN GOES MISSING ARE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF WHAT THOSE UPDATES ARE.
SO LAST DECEMBER WHEN COUNSEL APPROVED THE MOU WITH THE MYAA, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF PROJECTS THAT THE MYA AGREED TO TAKE ON.
AND SINCE LAST DECEMBER, THEY HAVE COMPLETED EIGHT OF THOSE PROJECTS AND THE PROJECTS WHERE THEY REPLACED PERIMETER FENCING AND INSTALLED NEW, UH, SOD AND, UH, MADE UPGRADES TO THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AT THE BOB MEYER BASEBALL PARK.
AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THAT.
UM, THEY RELOCATED, REPLACED, UM, PERIMETER FENCING AND DUGOUT FENCING AT THE HARTFORD CROSSING SHOPRIGHT TEEN LEAGUE FIELD.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THAT.
UH, THEY REPLACED THE SCOREBOARD AT THE HARTFORD CROSSING FOOTBALL FIELD.
THEY, UH, INSTALLED NEW FIELD LIGHTING AT THE BOB BENDY PARK, UH, FIELDS THREE AND FOUR, AND AGAIN, THEY'RE MAINTAINING THOSE.
THEY'VE, UM, INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED A NEW PARK MONUMENT SIGN NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO HARTFORD CROSSING PARK ON CHURCH ROAD.
UM, THEY'VE INSTALLED, UH, ANOTHER PARK SPONSORSHIP SIGN SIGN ALONG THE ENTRANCE OF BOB BEND DAY PARK ON MEDFORD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD, UM, WHICH WAS APPROVED AS AS TO THE LOCATION AND THE DESIGN.
THEY'VE ALSO INSTALLED A SERVICE PANEL ELECTRIC FOR A VENDING MACHINE AT BENDY PARK AND TWO VENDING MACHINES AT HARTFORD CROSSING FIELDS ONE AND TWO.
AND THEN, UH, ALSO WORKING WITH THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER.
THEY MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO ALL SIX PLAYING FIELDS AT THE HARTFORD GIRLS SOFTBALL COMPLEX.
SO WE APPRECIATE THAT MYAA CONTINUES TO BE OUR PARTNER.
UH, THERE'S A COUPLE MORE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT FOR THE MYAA ONE IS THE DECK HOCKEY RINK.
UH, WE ARE BORROWING THE MONEY ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT THEY'RE PAYING US BACK TO INSTALL A SECOND DECK HOCKEY RINK TO MAKE THAT SPORT MORE AVAILABLE TO MORE PARTICIPANTS AND TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT.
AND THEN AS WELL, THE, UH, TURF LIGHTING THAT, UH, THE PRESIDENT KRISTIN MENTIONED OVER AT THE, UH, HARTFORD CROSSING TURF FIELDS, THAT IS ONE THAT WE PURSUED GRANT FUNDING.
WE WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE GOTTEN MORE FROM THE COUNTY, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET $125,000, WHICH WE'D ASK COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TONIGHT TO ACCEPT.
A COUPLE MORE UPDATES FOR COUNSEL.
UH, I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT YESTERDAY WE LEARNED THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RENEW OUR SUSTAINABLE JERSEY SILVER CERTIFICATION LEVEL.
SO THANK YOU TO THE EAC ED, PAULA, DEB, AND THE REST OF THE CREW, AND TO BRIAN KOPP AND PUBLIC WORKS AND FOR HIS STORM WATER EFFORTS THERE, UM, TO GET THAT, WE JUST MADE IT SO WE'RE HAPPY TO GET THAT RENEWED AS WELL.
UM, AS FORMER CHIEF NOW, RETIRED CHIEF WATERMAN MENTIONED, UM, CHIEF DUNLEVY HAS TAKEN OVER AND, AND, UH, LIEUTENANT SAM LON HAVE BECOME CAPTAIN.
WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING FOR THEM ON DECEMBER 2ND.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, HIMALAYA ROAD, BOTH CHRIS KNOLL AND
[01:15:01]
BRIAN KOPP, OUR, OUR PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES DIRECTOR HAD BEEN STAYING ON TOP OF THE CONTRACTOR.PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THEY HAVE, UH, INSTALLED OVER 1,450 LINEAR FEET OF PIPE FROM GULF VIEW TO, UH, MILL.
UH, IT'S BEEN PRESSURE TESTED.
IT'S NOW BEING TESTED FOR, UH, BACTERIA, WHICH WE KNOW THAT'LL GET APPROVED AND DO COURSE THEY HAVE ABOUT 450 LINEAR FEET PLUS CONNECTIONS TO MAKE.
SO WE ARE, ARE CERTAINLY WELL ON TRACK TO GET THAT COMPLETED THIS MONTH AS UH, WE'D HOPED TO DO.
AND THAT'S MY, UH, REPORT FOR TONIGHT.
UM, DON'T WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF WE DO.
OH, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING ON SOMETHING ELSE.
SO CHIEF DOBY, PLEASE UH, EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO THE NEW VOLUNTEERS AND DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTEERS? ALRIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
OUR NEW FIREFIGHTERS ARE APPROVED.
AND A CONTINUING THANK YOU TO THE MYAA IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION AND CONTINUED APPRECIATION TO WORK IN SUCH A HEALTHY WAY WITH SUCH A HEALTHY ORGANIZATION.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE TIME.
SO, UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF A BAD LICENSE FOR ST.
MARY'S AND WEST PTA ON OCTOBER 18TH, SIX.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE SOCIAL AFFAIRS PERMITS.
WE HAVE OUR FARM TRUCK, JOHNSON'S FARM FROM OCTOBER, OCTOBER 16TH, FOUR TO EIGHTH.
THOSE, THOSE ARE PENDING COMMITTEES APPROVAL AS WE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CLERKS REPORT.
[X. BILL LIST]
THIS, WE HAVE THREE BILL LISTS TO ACCEPT FOR OCTOBER 2ND, 2025.AN ADDITIONAL BILL LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2025.
AN ADDITIONAL BILL LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2025.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BILL.
ALL IN FAVOR? A A OPPOSED THE BILL IS ARE ACCEPTED.
[XI. ORDINANCE FOR AMENDMENT]
HAVE ONE ORDINANCE FOR AMENDMENT.THIS IS ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 17.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 17? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL INTRODUCED ON FOR FIRST READING ORDINANCE 25 20 25 DASH 17 AMENDING ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD AND THE COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BRADDOCKS MILL DAM AND RELATED IMPROVEMENTS.
AND, AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP APPROPRIATING $1,100,000, THEREFORE AN AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,045,000 IN SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME.
UH, SO THIS ORDINANCE IS IN RESPONSE TO THE NEW JERSEY DAM RESTORATION PROJECT LOAN AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE NJ DEP BRADDOCK MILL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD IN DECEMBER, 2021.
IT IS BEING AMENDED DUE TO AN ERROR IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE.
IN THAT INTRODUCTION WAS AUGUST 19.
UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO THIS ORDINANCE? SO JUST TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS, MR. PRIME, SO WE'RE WE'RE VOTING TO APPROVE THE AMENDED ORDINANCE? YES.
THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS ALREADY IN HAD BE AMEND ALL AND THE LAW REQUIRED IF IT'S A MATERIAL CHANGE, WE HAVE TO, AND THE OBVIOUSLY SECOND MEETING WILL BE NOVEMBER.
ALRIGHT, SO ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
[XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S)]
UH, WE HAVE ONE ORDINANCE FOR SECOND READING.THIS IS ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 18.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 18 PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY 1 31 CHURCH ROAD BY THE TOWNSHIP AND APPROPRIATING $1 MILLION TO FUND THE SAME TO FUNDS.
SO THE TOWNSHIP OBTAINED A GRANT FROM THE N-J-D-E-P GREEN ACRES TO ASSIST IN PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY FOR OUR OPEN SPACE PROGRAM.
THE APPRAISAL WAS $973,700 AND THE PROPERTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR GREEN ACRES, ACRES FUNDING UP TO 50% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE.
AND THIS ORDINANCE SECURES THE FUNDING FROM OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
THE INTRODUCTION WAS SEPTEMBER 16TH.
AND SO WE'LL NOW OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE ALONE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL YOU UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING SOME OH, OH, I'M SORRY, PLEASE.
[01:20:01]
I, I, I'M SORRY, MA'AM.ZACH WILSON, CAN YOU, CAN YOU GO OVER THOSE FINANCIALS AGAIN? YOU SAID SAID IT RE FOR $937,000 WE'RE ELIGIBLE FOR 50% OF THAT FROM THE NJ P NINE SEVEN.
SO, BUT WE'RE TAKING OUT A MILLION UP TO MILLION, WHICH ALSO 50% REIMBURSEMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER SO WE PAY IN IT REIMBURSES UP 15%.
WE HAVE, WE WERE TAKING OUT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR.
SO DOES THAT MAKES SENSE? OKAY.
WOULD I ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SOME SECOND.
ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU KNOW EVERYONE INVOLVED.
I KNOW THIS, IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS, BUT, UM, THAT, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CORNER.
THE NORTH MAIN, UH, NORTH MEDFORD, EXCUSE ME.
UM, I KNOW THERE WAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN.
THERE AM AM I TOO FAR FROM THE MICROPHONE? I APOLOGIZE.
I'M GONNA REITERATE, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THAT PARCEL OF LAND, UM, AS WE SEE DEVELOPMENT ALL OVER MEDFORD, BUT SPECIFICALLY NORTH MEDFORD.
UH, THAT CORNER IS A VERY STRATEGIC CORNER FOR US.
AND THANK YOU MR. PRIME AND ALL THE OTHERS INVOLVED FOR SECURING THAT, THAT PARCEL FOR US FOR GENERATIONS.
THIS'S BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED TODAY 2021 IS WHEN WE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION.
UH, IT REQUIRED A FROM GREEN ACRE REQUIRED APPROVAL FROM STEP, UM, THE BIG HAD, UH, AND THE STABLISH HAVE A GLOBAL AREA THAT WAS THERE, WHICH THERE WAS OVER NINE ACRES IT COULD HAVE BEEN.
BUT, UM, NOW SOME WE HAVE ABOUT DECEMBER 1ST, UH, THIS YEAR, WITHIN THE YEAR, UH, THE ONLY DELAYS HAVE BEEN, WE HAVE THROUGH SURVEY HAS SUPER PASSES THROUGH EVERYTHING.
SO WE WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO, I'M JUST EXCITED.
IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE PRESERVING THAT.
THAT'S WHERE THE RESIDENTS, UH, OPEN SPACE TAXES COME INTO PLAY.
RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT'S UTILIZED FOR.
ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION, PLEASE.
I THOUGHT WE DID, I THINK WE DID IT FOR ADOPTION.
WE VOTED TWICE, SO MY APOLOGIES.
AND SO PLEASE, IN, IN A, IN A UH, ANTICIPATION OF THIS POSITIVE VOTE, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO A RIBBON CUTTING TOMORROW AT JOHNSON'S CORNER FARM AT 6:00 PM AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED, UH, IN THIS WORLD OF COURT MANDATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS WONDERFUL TO PRESERVE ANOTHER ACRE, ANOTHER 11 ACRES OF LAND, UH, FROM DEVELOPMENT HERE IN MEDFORD.
SO THANK YOU AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW.
[XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS]
REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS, WE WILL BE ADDING RESOLUTION 180 3 DASH 2025, A CHANGE OF TOWNSHIP SAFETY COORDINATOR.AND SO I'LL START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LIST.
RESOLUTION 1 65 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING REFUND OF 20 25 20, UH, TAX OVERPAYMENTS RESOLUTION 1 66 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING CANCELLATION OF FINAL 2025 PRELIMINARY 2026 PROPERTY TAXES ON PROPERTY OWNED BY QUALIFYING TOTALLY DISABLED EXEMPT VETERAN RESOLUTION 1 67 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING AN UPDATED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD AND THE M UH, MEDFORD YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
RESOLUTION 1 68 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH THE OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING CENTER OF BURLINGTON COUNTY FOR CLEANING SERVICES RESOLUTION 1 69 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH MERIT SERVICE SOLUTIONS FOR LAWN CARE SERVICES RESOLUTION ONE 70 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THE FAST TRACK GOV SOFTWARE MODULE FROM MITCHELL HUMPHREY AND COMPANY FOR PLANNING AND ZONING RESOLUTION 1 71 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH RIVERFRONT RECYCLING AND AGGREGATE LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,610 88 CENTS FOR HEMAL LINE ROAD WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT RESOLUTION 1 72 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING EXTENSION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH VARIOUS MEDFORD ORGANIZATIONS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS RESOLUTION 1 21 73 20 25
[01:25:03]
ACCEPTING AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 FROM BURLINGTON COUNTY MUNICIPAL PARK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO HARTFORD CROSSING PARK RESOLUTION 1 74 DASH 2025 FORMALIZING THE PURCHASE OF A 2026 PIERCE 100 FOOT LADDER TRUCK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND EMS RESOLUTION 1 75 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH ERI FOR FOREST AND WOODLAND AVENUES WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $69,600 RESOLUTION 1 76 DASH 2025 ACCEPTING DONATION OF FUNDS FROM THE MEDFORD VFW AUXILIARY ON BEHALF OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CANINE UNIT RESOLUTION 1 77 DASH 2025 PROVIDING CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF A PUBLIC MURAL AT TWO UNION STREET RESOLUTION 1 78 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A DECK HOCKEY R FROM CLASSIC TURF IN THE AMOUNT OF $675,000 FOR HARTFORD CROSSING PARK RESOLUTION.1 79 DASH 2025 APPROVING REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF A PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE AT 16 CEDAR TRAIL RESOLUTION 180 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH AAC PARKING PA, EXCUSE ME, PAVING COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE FOUR 100,044, EXCUSE ME, $144,791 90 CENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023 ROAD PROGRAM RESOLUTION 180 1 DASH 2025 APPROVING OR DENYING A BULK VARIANCE FOR NINE BRANCH STREET RESOLUTION.
180 2 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING AWARD FOR CONTRACT RELIEF REMOVAL IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $91,543 AND 13 CENTS PER CALENDAR YEAR 2025 TO BRITAIN INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES RESOLUTION 180 3 DASH 2025.
THE CHANGE OF SAFETY COORDINATOR FOR MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.
MAYOR, I MAY BEFORE YOU, UH, ACTUALLY APPROVE, UH, THE PREFERENCE OF RESOLUTION 180 1 20 25 PUBLIC.
IT'S GOTTA BE VOTE ACTED ON IT.
UM, THERE WAS A ZONING BOARD BEARING GRANTED FOR A FENCE FROM BRANCH STREET FOR RESIDENCE.
UH, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE LOT AND THE IMPACTS THE LOT HAD ON THE FENCE.
THAT REQUIRED OUR APPROVAL, AT LEAST THOSE TO OTHER APPROVAL THAT NOTING IT.
UM, SO THE, UH, BEFORE YOU VOTE, I WOULD NEED A MOTION TO AMEND RE THAT.
MOTION WOULD THEN BE DONE BY VOICE VOTE.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
I DID REACH OUT TO MR. HORNICK TODAY ABOUT IT.
UM, THE ONLY THING I WASN'T AWARE OF IS HOW, WHAT IS THE HEIGHT OF THE FENCE? I'M SORRY.
AND IS IT FRONT YARD, SIDE STREET? YEAH.
BECAUSE OF HOW HIS HOUSE IS LAID OUT.
THAT'S HOW YOUD DREW THE PICTURE.
BOARD PROVE ALL YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS ONLY THE ISSUE IS THE TWO AND A HALF FEET.
WELL, YOU KNOW, ME WITH ZONING BOARD ALREADY APPROVED.
UH, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, MAKE AN ALTERATION TO RESOLUTION 180 1 DASH 2025 APPROVING BULK VARIANCE FOR NINE BRANCH STREET.
AND THEN CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS? SO MOVED.
WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS THIS EVENING.
UH, I JUST SURE, LET'S ROLL CALL.
CAN WE HAVE A A ROLL, ROLL CALL FOR IF YOU WANT TO? UM, IF I MAY JUST REAL FAST.
SO I JUST, UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, 1 68, UM, THE CONTRACT THAT MS. I BELIEVE MR. HORNIK HAD BEGUN ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
UM, THIS IS THE TOWNSHIP IS RECEIVING SERVICES FROM A COUNTY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, UM, AND WORK ASSISTANCE THAT JUST AS A RESIDENT AND SOMEONE THAT COMES IN AND OUT OF THE, THE TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS, IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT SERVICE BEING IMPLEMENTED.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO THANK MR. HOR FOR THAT.
UM, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE FINALIZATION OF THE LADDER TRUCK ON ONE SEVEN, UH, RESOLUTION 1 74, UM, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE ASSET FOR OUR TOWN FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
[01:30:01]
THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE MEDFORD VFW AUXILIARY FOR THEIR DONATIONS, UH, TO OUR MEDFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT.UM, THEY, THEY ALWAYS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
AND COULD I JUST ADD ONE MORE THING? UH, I JUST WANNA THANK COUNSEL FOR APPROVING THE LADDER TRUCK BECAUSE BY APPROVING IT AND ALLOWING US TO, TO PREPAY FOR IT, YOU'VE SAVED THE TAXPAYERS $250,000 OFF THE PRICE OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
SO WE ALREADY HAD OUR MOTIONS.
UH, AND WE HAVE A ROLL CALL FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE.
SECONDARY AYE, STOP THE CONSENT AGENDAS, UH, THE CONSENT RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED.
UH, WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS THIS EVENING.
[XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE NOW HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION, ES 1 0 0 7 20 25.PERSONNEL PUBLIC BODY APPOINTMENT NJS, A TEN FOUR DASH 12 B, SECTION EIGHT AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, SUPERIOR OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, NJ SA TEN FOUR DASH 12 B SECTION FOR WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? SO MOVED.
THE MOTION IS APPROVED SO WE'LL BE GOING INTO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY IN THE ROOM AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE IN THERE FOR, UH, A BIT OF TIME AND ACTION MAY BE TAKEN.
HEY, I RECONVENED THE OPEN PORTION OF THE MEETING.
WE DISCUSSED ALL THE ITEMS ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE MEETING.
OPPOSED? THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.