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GOOD? YEP.I CALLED THE ORDER THE MEETING
[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]
FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD TOWN COUNCIL FOR NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025.THIS MEETING IS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025 WAS INCLUDED IN A MEETING NOTICE SENT TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES AND THE CENTRAL RECORD ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2024, AND ADVERTISED IN SAID NEWSPAPERS ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2024, DECEMBER 26TH, 2024, RESPECTIVELY POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING 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 ]
SLIP.I'D PLEASE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD.
[III. ROLL CALL]
MS. NO.WE, UH, HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS?
[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]
NOTHING TONIGHT.SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF CEREMONIES THIS WEEK, UH, THAT WERE LAST WEEK RATHER FOR VETERAN'S DAY, SO THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY VETERANS IN THE ROOM AT THE MOMENT? ANY VETERANS IN THE ROOM? ALRIGHT, SO IT'S ODD TO HAVE A CROWD THIS SIZE TO NOT YOU.
SO, UH, SO JUST THANK YOU TO THE VETERANS AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WITH THE THREE DIFFERENT REEF PLACINGS AS WELL AS A CEREMONY AT, UH, FARMSTEAD.
AND IT WAS REALLY JUST A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE SO MANY, MANY OF US, SEVERAL OF US ON COUNCIL WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THESE EVENTS AND SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS? ALRIGHT, WELL RE REGARDING OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING.
WE HAVE DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT 6:30 PM PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE CANCELING THE DECEMBER 2ND, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THAT TIME.
SO WE WILL JUST HAVE ONE MEETING IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
HAVE NOVEMBER 6TH, 2025.COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND NOVEMBER 6TH, 2025.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES? SO MOVED.
OPPOSED? THE MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED.
UH, WE JUST HAVE ONE DISCUSSION ITEM THAT'S
[VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS]
NOT LISTED, BUT MR. PRIME, UH, HAD SOME COMMENTS? UH, YES.MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL, THANK YOU.
UH, I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, IF THE COUNCIL WILL INDULGE ME, UH, TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC AT THE LAST MEETING CONCERNING THE TOWNSHIP'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION.
I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, UH, TO SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS.
UH, ONE OF THE COMMENTS SUGGESTED SOME, UH, USE OF ALTERNATE DEVELOP, UH, EXCUSE ME, ALTERNATE DWELLING UNITS.
UM, THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP CODE DOES ALLOW FOR ALTERNATE DWELLING UNITS, BUT IT'S UNDER VERY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
UM, YOU CAN HAVE A GARAGE, A APARTMENT ABOVE YOUR GARAGE, YOU CAN HAVE A SEPARATE LITTLE UNIT, UH, BUT IT CAN'T BE RENTED, AND IT HAS TO BE ONLY, UM, OCCUPIED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.
AND BECAUSE OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS, IT'S REALLY NOT PRACTICAL TO USE ADUS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FIRST PROBLEM IS, UM, ANY UNIT THAT FOR WHICH THE TOWNSHIP CAN GET CREDIT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT HAS TO BE DEED RESTRICTED FOR 30 YEARS.
UM, THAT DEED RESTRICTION PROVIDES THAT IT CAN ONLY BE RENTED OR SOLD TO A PERSON WHO QUALIFIES AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, OCCUPANT.
SO ANYBODY THAT WOULD, WOULD WANT TO USE AN A DU IN MEDFORD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD HAVE TO DERESTRICT THEIR PROPERTY AND COULD ONLY RENT IT TO OR SELL IT TO A, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OCCUPANT.
EVEN IF YOUR MOM AND DAD QUALIFY AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PERSON, THAT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT THEN THE PROPERTY STILL HAD TO BE AFTER THEY LEAVE, THEY STILL HAS, COULD ONLY BE RENTED OR SOLD TO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PERSON.
UM, I'VE LOOKED AT, UH, ON A COUPLE OF THE WEBSITES.
UH, MOST TOWNS ALLOW A D USE, BUT THEY DON'T USE THEM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO IT'S JUST NOT A PRACTICAL SOLUTION.
NOT TO SAY THAT MAYBE ONE OR TWO PER PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE WILLING TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT.
WE NEED 171 UNITS FOR THE FOURTH ROUND.
IT'S REALLY NOT A PRACTICAL SOLUTION AT, AT LEAST FOR ANY, ANY AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED.
UH, THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT WE AUDIT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NUMBERS.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE, UH, THE PURPOSE OF THAT.
UM, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO AUDIT.
THE, THE TOWNSHIP'S THIRD BOUND OBLIGATION WAS NEGOTIATED.
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IT DOWN, UH, TO 483 UNITS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THROUGH A NEGOTIATION AND A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH FAIR SHARE HOUSING.SO THOSE UNITS WERE, WERE SPECIFIED.
THE FOURTH ROUND WAS SET BY THE STATE.
THERE WAS NO NEGOTIATION, NO DISCOUNT FOR SETTLEMENT.
THE NUMBERS 1 71, THAT'S WHAT THE STATE GAVE US.
UH, THE STATE HAS REQUIRED US TO UPDATE THOSE TABLES THE FIRST ROUND, EXCUSE ME, PRIOR ROUND, THIRD ROUND AND PROPOSED FOURTH ROUND.
IT'S REALLY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS WHAT WE'VE HAD, BUT WE DID UPDATE THEM, UH, AND THEY'LL BE, I CAN GIVE THEM TO, UH, THE CLERK.
WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE TOMORROW.
WE DID UPDATE THOSE TABLES SO IT'S CLEAR WHAT WAS BUILT, WHAT HAS TO BE BUILT, AND WE CAN DO THAT.
UH, ANOTHER SUGGESTION WAS, UH, COOPERATION WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THAT.
IN FACT, UH, IN OUR EARLIER ROUNDS, WE ACTUALLY, TOWNSHIP ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED 117 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO THE BOROUGH OF GLASSBORO.
UH, WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THAT AT THE TIME.
BOROUGH OF GLASSBORO NEEDED THE UNITS, UH, AND WE TRANSFERRED 'EM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE LEGISLATURE THEN PROHIBITED US FROM DOING THAT.
YOU CAN'T TRANSFER YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION TO ANOTHER TOWN.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS HAVE TO BE IN YOUR TOWN.
SO IT MAKES IT, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER THAN KEEP 'EM IN TOWN.
HOWEVER, WE DID DO THAT WITH LUMBERTON.
UM, THE FLYING W IT'S REALLY ONLY PRACTICAL WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER OWNS PROPERTY IN BOTH TOWNS.
SO WE DID NEGOTIATE WITH LUMBERTON.
UM, BOTH LUMBERTON AND MEDFORD FELT THAT THE FLYING W NEEDED TO BE REDEVELOPED.
THE LONG-TERM PROSPECTS OF A SMALL REGIONAL AIRPORT ARE NOT GOOD.
NEITHER TOWN WANTED TO HAVE A VACANT PROPERTY, UH, YOU KNOW, OFF THE TAX ROLLS.
SO WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE DID DO, UH, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN.
THE UNITS ARE, ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ARE ALL IN MEDFORD AS THEY HAVE TO BE, BUT THERE'S A HUNDRED HOMES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE IN MEDFORD, THAT WILL BE IN LUMBERTON.
AND WE HAVE A SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT, UH, BEING NEGOTIATED WITH LUMBERTON.
SO WE HAVE TRIED TO COOPERATE WHERE WE COULD, WHERE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT.
AND THAT WAS A, UH, THAT WAS A GOOD COMMENT AND THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT.
UH, THE OTHER SUGGESTION THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN OTHER MEETINGS WAS THE IDEA OF TRYING TO USE A 100% AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE IS THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR A MUNICIPALITY, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW THE BUILDER TO BUILD THE FOUR MARKET UNITS THAT THE STATE REQUIRES TO SUBSIDIZE THE ONE AFFORDABLE UNIT.
IT'S JUST A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, AND IT WAS REALLY COUNCIL PERSON CHI EXPLAINED IT MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN.
UM, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PRIOR ROUND, UH, WITH THE MEN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS RIGHT BACK HERE, UM, 37 AFFORDABLES STANDALONE.
WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE, UH, A STANDALONE DEVELOPMENT IN THE THIRD ROUND WITH THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OVER ON HARTFORD SQUARE.
UH, THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THEY HAD TO QUALIFY FOR TAX, EXCUSE ME, TAX CREDITS.
AND THE TOWNSHIP HAD TO CONTRIBUTE $400,000 TO MAKE THE DEAL WORK.
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA WERE WILLING TO DO ANOTHER SITE IN MEDFORD.
THEY WERE VERY, THEIR SITE'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I TRIED VERY HARD TO FIND A SITE FOR THEM.
UH, WE DID HAVE A POSSIBILITY WITH THIS SITE ON ROUTE 70.
UH, I PUT THEM IN TOUCH, BUT THE LANDOWNER WOULD NOT SELL TO VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FOR THE PRICE THAT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA COULD AFFORD TO PAY.
AND THE TOWNSHIP HAD NO AVAILABLE FUNDS TO SUBSIDIZE THAT THE TOWNSHIP COULD BOND FOR THESE THINGS.
WE COULD PASS A $20 MILLION BOND ORDINANCE AND FUND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
THE PROBLEM IS THE IMPACT OF THAT ON THE, ON OUR TAXPAYERS AND ON THE TAX BASE.
UM, WE JUST, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND IS FUNDED SOLELY BY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
EACH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PAYS 2.5% OF THE EQUALIZED ASSESSED VALUE.
AND THAT GOES IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
SO YOU CAN USE THAT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
W TOWNSHIP JUST DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO GENERATE FUNDS FOR THE, FOR THE TRUST FUND.
UH, THE ONLY OPTION WOULD BE TO, TO BOND IT AND, AND, AND, AND HAVE THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR IT.
UM, JUST TO, FOR THE PUBLIC EDIFICATION, I DID DO A COMPARISON.
I TRACKED THE OTHER TOWN'S PLANS VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD INDICATOR OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOR, HAMM HAD AN OBLIGATION OF 220 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE FOURTH ROUND.
UH, I, I, I TRACKED DOWN THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FOR E SHAM.
UH, BUT THE TOTAL, THE MARTON CROSSING REDEVELOPMENT AREA, THE
[00:10:01]
WALTERS E SHAM SENIOR DEVELOPMENT, MARLTON, GREEN, BLUE ANCHOR FAMILY RENTAL ROUTE 73 DUTCH ROAD, AND THE SKATING RINK SITE, UH, THEY TOTAL 704, UH, TOTAL UNITS CLOSE TO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.NOW, THE DIFFERENCE, EACH CHAMBER OF OBLIGATION IS TWO 20 AND THEY, THROUGH INCLUSIONARY, THEY USE 143.
WHERE DO THE OTHER UNITS COME FROM? I'M GONNA DISCUSS THAT LATER BECAUSE THAT'S A MECHANISM INVOLVING MARKET TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO, UM, PURCHASING, UH, EXTENSION OF AFFORDABILITY CREDITS.
I'M GONNA DEAL WITH THAT IN A MINUTE, AND I DON'T WANNA BE TOO TECHNICAL, BUT I'M TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS.
MORRISTOWN, WHICH I THINK IS PROBABLY OUR CLOSEST MUNICIPALITY, AS FAR AS POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS, I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY SIMILAR.
THEY HAD AN OBLIGATION OF 255 UNITS.
UH, I HAVE THEIR LIST, THEIR INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENTS.
UH, MRD, SHAR BOULEVARD, CORNERSTONE LAND RESOURCE SOLUTIONS, ENCLAVE AT MORRISTOWN.
ANYWAY, THEIR TOTAL MARKET HOUSING IS 940 UNITS MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO GENERATE 233 AFFORDABLE, WHICH THEY NEED TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT MORRISTOWN IS 375 OF THEIR UNITS AND 75 OF THEIR AFFORDABLES, UH, COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MORRISTOWN MALL.
THAT'S GONNA BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PART OF IT.
AND AGAIN, IF MEDFORD WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.
OUR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY WHATEVER THERE IS ON ROUTE 70, WHATEVER THERE IS AT IRONSTONE VILLAGE ON STOKES ROAD, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
AND NONE OF THOSE ARE REALLY, NONE OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE INTERESTED IN, IN PROVIDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT SOME SUBSIDY, AGAIN, WITHOUT MONEY.
UM, THAT, THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.
UH, A COUPLE FINAL THOUGHTS, AND I WILL BE BRIEF.
I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR GOING ON AND ON ABOUT THIS, BUT AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE.
I'M TRYING TO, TRYING TO RESPOND.
UM, THE EHAM IS USING TWO VEHICLES FOR PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
ONE OF THEM IS EXTENSION OF AFFORDABILITY CREDITS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE WOULD GO TO VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA.
WE WOULD GO TO MEND AND SAY, YOU HAVE A 30 YEAR DE RESTRICTION ON YOUR PROPERTY.
SO WE'LL PAY YOU TO EXTEND HIM TO 60 YEARS.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG FINANCIAL OBLIGATION.
ECM HAS IT IN THEIR PLAN, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BOND OR, OR NOT DO IT.
UH, FOR THESE, FOR THESE UNITS, UM, I COULD HAVE PUT IN OUR PLAN, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE 25 UNITS THROUGH, WE'RE GONNA EXTEND CREDITS, AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE PLAN.
PROBLEM IS WE THEN HAVE TO PROVE TO THE COURT AND FAIR SHARE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT AND WHAT THE COST IS.
SO THE OTHER TOWNS THAT HAVE PROPOSED THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
THE OTHER OPTION WAS MARKET TO AFFORDABLE.
BASICALLY YOU FIND A PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S WILLING TO DERESTRICT HIS PROPERTY AND CONVERT IT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON A ONE FOR ONE BASIS.
NOBODY'S GONNA DO THAT VOLUNTARILY.
THEY, THEY'RE GONNA WANNA GET PAID.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S, IT'S, THE TOWN COULD DO IT.
WE COULD BUY HOUSES, UM, AND MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE BY PUTTING A DEED RESTRICTION ON THEM.
IT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION UNLESS WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO, TO THROW AT IT ALL, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT LEAVES US WITH THE OPTION OF DOING THE INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENTS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THE FOURTH ROUND.
WE GOT HURT BY A COUPLE CHANGES TO THE LAW IN THE THIRD ROUND.
WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, USE MORE, UH, AGE RESTRICTED SENIOR HOUSING.
THE STATE HAS NOW LIMITED US TO ONLY 25% OF OUR UNITS COULD BE SENIORS.
OUR OUR FOURTH ROUND PLAN PROVIDES FOR ALL THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL, WE CAN ONLY USE 25%.
THE OTHER BIG CHANGE WAS WE USED TO GET BONUS CREDITS FOR FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S A REAL NEED IN IN, IN THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ACCORDING TO THE STATE FOR FAMILY RENTAL PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY, BUT THEY CAN, THEY CAN RENT ON A REDUCED RENT.
WE USED TO GET A BONUS CREDIT FOR EVERY FAMILY RENTAL UNIT IN THE FOURTH ROUND.
WE STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE THE FAMILY RENTAL UNITS, BUT WE DON'T, BUT WE DON'T GET A BONUS CREDIT FOR IT.
SO OUR, ALL THREE OF THE PROPOSED FOURTH ROUND DEVELOPMENTS HAVE FAMILY RENTAL IN THEM, BUT WE DON'T GET ANY BONUS CREDITS FOR THEM.
UM, I GUESS TO SUMMARIZE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NICE TO SAY BE BE CREATIVE.
UM, I'D LOVE TO BE MORE CREATIVE.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE HAMSTRUNG BY THE REGULATIONS AND OUR ABILITY TO FUND THOSE THINGS THAT NEED THE ALTERNATE, UH, UH, PLANS.
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UM, THIS IS A STATE MANDATE.UM, THE STATE HAS SAID EVERY MUNICIPALITY HAS TO PROVIDE A REGIONAL SHARE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU CS DOING IT, WE'RE DOING IT.
AND MY LAST POINT IS, UM, THESE ARE NOT FAMILY FARMS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY ARE OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS, SOME OF THEM INVESTORS.
UM, THEY HAVE GONE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS HAVE APPROACHED THEM AND OFFERED TO PROVIDE THEIR LAND AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE.
UM, THAT ONLY UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PLAN, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN BY THE END OF THE YEAR APPROVED BY THE COURT, WE LOSE OUR IMMUNITY AND WE'RE SUBJECT TO BUILDER'S REMEDY SUITS, WE WOULD GET THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS.
A BUILDER COULD PUT 'EM ALL ON ONE SITE WITH FOUR STORY, UM, UH, BUILDINGS.
BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE ARCHITECTURE OF NO CONTROL OVER THE BUFFER, NO CONTROL OVER LANDSCAPING.
NO CONTROL OVER THE PLANNING BOARD PROCESS, ALL WHICH IS TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS.
THESE ARE NOT, IT'S NOT A PLEASANT MATTER.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING AS AN ATTORNEY THAT I FEEL I'M ACCOMPLISHING, UH, SOMETHING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD OR FOR THE TOWNSHIP'S GOOD.
IT'S REALLY A RESPONSE TO A STATE MANDATE THAT I'M TRYING TO GIVE THE BEST ADVICE I CAN ON HOW TO RESOLVE IT AND HOW TO SOLVE IT.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THAT STUFF.
MR. MAYOR, WOULD IT BE OKAY IF I HAD JUST A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS, PLEASE? SO I JUST RETURNED FROM NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES CONFERENCE THAT I WENT TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATES SEMINAR YESTERDAY.
AND WHAT THE STATE REPORTED DURING, DURING THAT SEMINAR WAS THAT FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM, BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, AND THROUGH THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THEY FUND STATES THEY GIVE MONEY TO THE STATES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY.
NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS INDICATED THAT FUNDING FOR HOUSING TO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IS GETTING CUT.
44%, MEANING THAT THAT'S LESS MONEY.
THAT NEW JERSEY HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE AGENCY HAS TO LEND OUT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
AND MR. PRIME SAID IT AT A PRIOR MEETING.
I KNOW DEPUTY MAYOR SAID IT AT A PRIOR MEETING, BUT THOSE TAX CREDITS ARE EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE, AND NOW THERE'S GONNA BE EVEN LESS OF THEM TO COMPETE FOR.
THERE WAS ONE OTHER POINT THAT WAS RAISED AT THE LAST MEETING, UM, THAT I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY.
AND THAT IS THE IDEA OF DISPERSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY BUILDING SINGLE UNITS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN IS SOUNDS GREAT, IT REALLY DOES, BUT IT'S NOT FEASIBLE.
SO I WENT BACK AND I LOOKED AT WHAT, HOW MANY CONSTRUCTION PERMITS HAVE BEEN PULLED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR, OR JUST DWELLING UNITS? AND, UH, WHAT I FOUND WAS IN, UH, IN 2022, THERE WERE JUST SIX CONSTRUCTION PERMITS ISSUED FOR NEW HOMES.
IN 2023, THERE WERE 33 PERMITS, BUT MOST OF THAT WAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ON MILL STREET AT HEMAL ROAD IN 2024, THERE WERE JUST FIVE PERMITS ISSUED.
AND THIS YEAR THROUGH 10 MONTHS, THERE HAVE JUST BEEN SIX PERMIT ISSUES.
SO WHAT THAT INDICATES IS THAT THERE IS A DEARTH OF AVAILABLE BUILDABLE LOTS IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOME HERE OR AN AFFORDABLE HOME.
THEY'RE JUST, WHENEVER THERE ARE LOTS AVAILABLE, THEY'RE USUALLY BOUGHT UP BY A DEVELOPER OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S SOMEBODY THAT TAKES A HOUSE AND KNOCKS DOWN AN OLD HOUSE AND BUILDS A NEW HOUSE ON IT.
SO WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT AS A VIABLE OPTION.
AND IT ALSO TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THESE LOCATIONS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FINANCE A DEVELOPER TO BUILD THE HOUSES ON THEM.
WE DON'T, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND IS NOT ROBUST.
AND SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE, WE, WE PROBABLY PROBABLY BE OUTTA MONEY AFTER FOUR UNITS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO SOME OF THOSE IDEAS.
THEY'RE GOOD IDEAS, BUT AGAIN, AS TIM MENTIONED, UM, FUNDING IS THE GIGANTIC CONSTRAINT.
OTHER COMMENTS? OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU BOTH.
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ]
NOW OPEN IT UP TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING, AND WE WOULD ASK THAT GENERAL DECORUM IS EXHIBITED.AND SO JUST PLEASE BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND YOUR NEIGHBORS, MANY VETERANS LOST THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FREE SPEECH.
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VETERANS CURRENTLY AROUND THE GLOBE FIGHTING FOR THOSE, THOSE FREEDOMS TO ENDURE TODAY.AND SO HONORING EACH OTHER IS A WAY TO HONOR THEM.
SO PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ALSO DO HAVE ORDINANCE THAT 20 DASH THREE, WHICH CALLS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN PROPER CONDUCT AND TO AVOID DISTURBING THE PEACE OF THE MEETING.
AND SO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PORTION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO VOICE YOUR COMMENTS PUBLICLY, BUT KNOW THAT IT IS NOT A TIME OF PUBLIC DEBATE.
AND SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL WELCOME TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE MAY OR MAY NOT OPT TO RESPOND TO THOSE COMMENTS.
IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE
I LIVE AT 2 6 5 MEDFORD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD IN MEDFORD.
AND I WAS HOME LAST MEETING AND THERE WAS NO SOUND, THE MICROPHONE I DON'T THINK WAS TURNED ON.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GET UP HERE FIRST TO MAKE SURE NOT THE MICROPHONE'S TURNED ON.
IT'S COMING THROUGH FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AT HOME SO THAT THEY CAN WATCH.
NOW I'VE GOT MY 15 SECONDS OF BANG.
ONE COMMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS I DON'T THINK THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN WHOEVER'S DOING THE PLANNING AND APPROVING THESE NEW HOMES THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING SUGGESTED THAT ARE COMING IN.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE COORDINATING OR COMMUNICATING AT ALL WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE TOWN.
AND, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE LITTLE KIDS THAT SHOW UP AT THOSE HOMES AND ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO A SCHOOL.
UM, LAST I HEARD THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE AT CAPACITY AND SO 400, 600, 800 NEW HOMES SHOW UP, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR NOT.
UM, IT'S GONNA PUT THE MEDFORD SCHOOL SYSTEM BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.
AND IT, IT'D BE SAD THAT IF THAT HAPPENED AND, AND THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, THE, THE QUALITY EDUCATION WAS NO LONGER TAUGHT TO BE THERE IN THE TOWNSHIP AND IT WOULD DO NOTHING BUT SEND THE SCHOOL TAXES THROUGH THE ROOF FOR MOST, MOST PEOPLE ALREADY LIVING HERE, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE PEOPLE JUST MOVING IT.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAD TO COMMENT ON.
I'M 2 72 CHURCH ROAD IN MEDFORD.
AND THANKS FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I'M HERE NATURALLY TO TALK AGAINST THESE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS.
AND I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE, I HOPE THAT THE REVENUE THAT'S GONNA BE GENERATED FROM THESE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS IN REGARDS TO TAX MONEY PAID TO MEDFORD IS GOING TO BE NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT THE, THE EFFECT THAT THESE FOUR DEVELOPMENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE ON THE TOWNSHIP.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST PHASE OF MY REPORT DEALS WITH THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
AND MY DOCUMENTATION AND MY NUMBERS AND ALL MY CALCULATIONS ARE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING REFERENCES.
NUMBER ONE, I USED THE MEDFORD 2025 HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS INC.
AT IS ON THE WEBSITE YOU CAN GET ANY TIME.
I ALSO UTILIZED THE LEPE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND THE K TO EIGHT BEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TO HELP ME WITH MY NUMBERS THAT I NEEDED.
I ALSO COMMUNICATED WITH A ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT FIRM WITH OVERSAW THE CONSTRUCTION OF AT LEAST 30 SCHOOLS IN BURLINGTON COUNTY, SEVERAL OF WHICH ARE RIGHT IN MEDFORD.
I AM A RETIRED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR OF 43 YEARS.
I SERVED 30 YEARS AS THE ADMINISTRATOR, 23 YEARS AS A SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR.
I RETIRED OUT OF THE LEPE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AS THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT IN CHARGE OF BUSINESS.
AND I ALSO WORKED FOR A YEAR IN AN INTERIM BASIS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[00:25:01]
WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT THE IMPACT IS HOW MANY ADDITIONAL STUDENTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE? WELL, USING THOSE REFERENCES AND YOUR REPORT, I WAS ABLE TO COME UP WITH THAT.WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF STUDENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,543 CHILDREN AT A MINIMUM.
514 OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL PROBABLY GO TO SHAWNEE AND THE REST OF THEM, 1029 WILL BE IN THE MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL FACILITIES.
THE LATEST, UH, STUDY DONE AT SHAWNEE, SHAWNEE HAS CAPACITY OF 1800 KIDS.
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 1,450, SO THEY HAVE ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL 350 STUDENTS.
THE NUMBER THAT'S PROJECTED TO GO THERE IS OVER 500.
SO THEY WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM I THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COPE WITH, BUT IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 1029 KIDS.
THIS GENTLEMAN STATED, AND HE'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, ALL THE BUILDINGS OF THE ITY RE OF THE MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE AT CAPACITY OR ABOVE.
THAT MEANS THAT ANY ADDITIONAL STUDENT THAT GOES TO MEDFORD, THERE'S NO SPACE.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY THINKING ABOUT GOING OUT THE REFERENDUM ALREADY BECAUSE OF THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN 2026.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT, THE FIRST PHASE THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IS HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL STAFF DO YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE KIDS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF STAFF NEEDED TO COVER THESE KIDS IS AT LEAST 26 TEACHERS WITH SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
THAT AMOUNT NEEDED TO COVER THOSE ADDITIONAL STAFF.
IT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST $2.8 MILLION FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AT LEAST 51 ADDITIONAL STAFF SALARY AND BENEFITS.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AT LEAST $5.5 MILLION TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL THOMAS, EXCUSE ME.
UM, WE HAVE A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.
SIR, IF YOU WISH TO SU SUPPLEMENT YOUR, UH, STATEMENTS WITH A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE TOWN, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO THAT.
BUT YOU HAVE A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
MAYOR, CAN I GET HIM MY FIVE MINUTES? COME ON GUY.
YOU DON'T MIND TOO? NO GUYS, WE WANT TO HEAR HIM AND SO THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO HEAR HIM.
I'LL GIVE MY FIVE MINUTES PLEASE.
THERE'S AN ORDINANCE LIMITING TIME LIMIT THAT'S BEING PUNISHED.
I'LL SUM IT UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
DON'T COUNT THIS TIME OF TALKING.
BESIDES STAFF, YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE GONNA REQUIRE TO AND FROM TRANSPORTATION.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF STUDENTS REGARD THAT ARE GONNA NEED SPECIAL NEEDS.
YOU'RE ALSO GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL IMPACT STUDIES.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT.
AND THE BIG NUMBER IS YOU'RE GONNA NEED MORE CLASSROOM SPACE.
MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, THE AMOUNT OF CLASSROOMS THEY ANTICIPATE IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN DOUBLE.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 20 ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACES AND SUPPORT SPACES THAT WE'LL HAVE TO GO OUT THE REFERENDUM, THE REFERENDUM WILL BE BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, AT LEAST $45 MILLION.
THE DEBT SERVICE NEEDED TO COVER THAT COST OVER THE LIFETIME OF THOSE BOND WILL BE AT LEAST $2.4 MILLION A YEAR.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BUDGET IN DEBT SERVICE.
THE TOTAL IMPACT FOR JUST EDUCATIONAL ALONE IS GOING TO BE ALMOST $15.8 MILLION TO COVER THE EXTRA EDUCATION COSTS.
THE ESTIMATED THANK REVENUE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GENERATE WITH THESE FOUR, TOM, WE CAN'T EXTEND IT, WE CAN'T EXTEND THE TIME WITHOUT ME BE APPROXIMATELY $27.2 MILLION.
THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE CAN'T EXTEND THE TIME FOR YOU IF WE DON'T EXTEND IT FOR EVERYONE.
JUST SO THE RECORD IS CLEAR, MAYOR, WE, THE TOWN COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE
[00:30:01]
OF THE IMPACT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION GENERALLY ON NOT ONLY THIS TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO THE TOWNSHIP SERVICES.SO THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION.
THANK ZACH WILSON, 51 NORTH MAIN STREET.
UM, COUNSEL, I, I, I GUESS I'LL TWO MAIN TOPICS.
SO NUMBER ONE, UM, MAYOR RESTOCK, YOU GET UP HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF PUBLIC COMMENT EVERY, EVERY MEETING AND YOU LAW THE, THE ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE GIVEN US THE RIGHT, UH, TO FREE SPEECH.
YOU TELL US THAT IT IS A TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, NOT A TIME FOR PUBLIC DEBATE.
LAST WEEK YOU DEFINITELY TRIED TO LIMIT FREE SPEECH.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS UPHELD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS CAN INCLUDE PROFANITY WHEN SPEAKING AGAINST LOCAL ORDINANCES AS LONG AS IT'S NOT DIRECTED AND IT IS NOT FIGHTING WORDS.
SO I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT HYPOCRISY, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT IS FREE SPEECH.
THE SECOND PART OF THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT I HAVE HAD BEEN UP HERE FOR YEARS ASKING THE VERY BASIC QUESTION, WHEN IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC DEBATE? YOU DON'T HOLD TOWN HALLS WHERE THIS CAN BE DISCUSSED OPENLY WITH YOU ALL ON THE RECORD.
YOU CHOOSE WHEN TO COMMENT ON PEOPLE'S PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WHEN TO RESPOND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
YOU JUST STONEWALL AND DON'T SAY ANYTHING AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMENTS.
I THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMENTS TOO.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU RESPOND TO THEM.
I'D LIKE BACK AND FORTH, I'D LIKE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND HAVE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS WITH INFORMATION LIKE WHAT MR. PINE JUST, UH, PRIME JUST TALKED ABOUT AND HAVE BACK AND FORTH SO THAT WE CAN ALL GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT THE CITIZENRY IS GOING TO BE SATISFIED HERE.
BUT YOU NEVER MAKE THE TIME, YOU NEVER HAVE A TIME FOR PUBLIC DEBATE.
TONIGHT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, YOU ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING OF SOMEHOW ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING LITIGATION AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE PUBLIC.
AND WHEN YOU RELEASE THE MINUTES FROM IT, IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETELY REDACTED.
THERE IS NO TIME WHERE WE GET TO SEE, EVEN YOU GUYS DEBATE THIS STUFF OPENLY.
YOU CAN GO TO THE PUB, TO THE PLANNING MEETINGS, YOU CAN GO TO THE ZONING MEETINGS, YOU CAN COME TO COUNCIL MEETINGS, YOU CAN TALK, AND WE MAY OR MAY NOT GET RESPONSES TO OUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT THERE'S NEVER A TIME FOR BACK AND FORTH.
AND YOU SIT UP HERE AND YOU WONDER WHY PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT IT.
OR MAYBE YOU DON'T AND YOU DON'T.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU NEVER OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC DEBATE.
WHEN YOU NEVER GO ON THE RECORD WITH AN ACTUAL TRUE BACK AND FORTH DIALOGUE WITH DOESN'T END UP BEING CONTENTIOUS BECAUSE YOU CUT US OFF AT FIVE MINUTES.
WHEN IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC DEBATE MAYOR RESTOCK? IF IT'S NOT NOW WHEN, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THAT FROM YOU.
THE SECOND PART IS RELATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I AM STARTING TO COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND BEG AND PLEAD FOR YOU TO TAKE THIS BACK, GO BACK TO THE STATE AND SAY WE'D LIKE ANOTHER CRACK AT THIS TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY WHERE WE DO HAVE THE HOUSING, WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE CAN DO SOME OFFSETS.
BUT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO FIND FIVE TO 10 UNITS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN THAT ARE PSYCH SPECIFIC REHABS WHERE WE CAN PUT THAT ON AS AFFORDABLE.
WE'D LIKE TO FIND 10 PEOPLE WHERE WE CAN RENEW THEIR, THEIR DEED.
WE'D LIKE TO FIND FIVE TO 10 ADUS AND PROMOTE THAT AND GET AND, AND, UH, INCENTIVIZE HOMEOWNERS TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT DEEP RESTRICTION ON.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL 171.
OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT.
NOBODY'S SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD, BUT THE ONLY SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED IN THIS ROUND ARE THE FULL DEVELOPMENTS.
THAT'S THE ONLY SOLUTIONS BEING DEVELOPED.
I AM I HAVE COME TO THE REALIZATION, THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET YOU TO CHANGE THAT PATH.
AND I WILL AGREE THAT IT IS VERY COMPLICATED TO COME UP WITH ALL OF THAT PLAN.
IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE, IT CAN LEAD TO TAX INCREASES, BUT IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO TAX INCREASES WHEN WE GO THROUGH DOWN THE ROUTE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING.
WHERE'S THE FULL ANALYSIS THAT IF WE DO THIS PLAN, THIS WILL BE OUR TAX HIT.
IF WE DO THIS OTHER PLAN, THIS WILL BE OUR TAX HIT AND THIS OTHER PLAN, THIS WILL BE OUR TAX HIT.
AND LET'S PUT THAT UP IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE AND SAY, LET'S DO THIS.
IT'S A COMPLICATED, A COMPLICATED PROCESS.
I ALSO FULLY GET THAT WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW.
AND BY CAS ADMISSION, I FULLY AGREE
[00:35:01]
WITH YOU THAT THE LEADERS ON THIS COUNCIL OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS DID NOTHING TO PREPARE US FOR THIS MOMENT OTHER THAN BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS.SO YES, YOU MAY HAVE WORKED FOR THE PRIOR ROUNDS, BUT YOU DID NOTHING TO PREPARE US FOR THIS ROUND TO DO ANY, TO MEET OUR OBLIGATION WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN THE FAIR.
ZACH, WHAT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN IS WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY TO PREPARE FOR ROUND FIVE? BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT ROUND FOUR.
HOW DO WE MEET ROUND FIVE WITHOUT THESE GIANT DEVELOPMENTS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT, AND I'M NOT GONNA RESPOND TO MR. WILSON'S COMMENTS BECAUSE HALF OF THE MORE AREN'T ACCURATE.
UM, THE FIFTH ROUND, WHICH IS 10 YEARS FROM NOW, IS GONNA BE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE I WON'T BE HERE BECAUSE, UM, WE HAVE ALMOST NO SEWER CAPACITY AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE ALMOST NO VACANT LAND AVAILABLE.
THERE IS MECHANISMS IN THIS STATUTE FOR WHAT THEY CALL A SCARCE RESOURCE MOTION, WHICH IS SAYING WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE SEWER.
THERE'S ALSO A MECHANISM FOR, UM, UH, VACANT LAND ADJUSTMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY VACANT LAND.
THEY, THEY HAVE SOME PROBLEMS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THEN LET THE STATE MONITOR YOUR VALUE.
YOU KNOW, YOUR VACANT LAND DON'T, YOU CAN'T LET ANYBODY ELSE DEVELOP.
RIGHT? OR YOU, YOU CAN'T LET ANYBODY ELSE HAVE SOAR.
SO THERE'S MONITORING INVOLVED, BUT THAT'S FOR REAL.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS ROUND IS GONNA BE ABOUT IT FOR MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.
WE HAVE NO GROUND LEFT THAT THE, I WOULD'VE APPLIED FOR A VACANT LAND ADJUSTMENT THIS TIME, EXCEPT THAT THE FARMERS
SO I THINK THAT THIS IS ABOUT IT FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
I HOPE, I HOPE, I HOPE VERY MUCH THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT I BELIEVE YOU'LL HAVE SOME VERY STRONG DEFENSES FOR THE FIFTH ROUND.
THE OTHER FACTOR, WHICH I HAVE TO RESPOND TO IS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS GIVEN US ALMOST NO TIME TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED.
WE HAD TO HAVE A PLAN IN OR WE LOSE OUR IMMUNITY.
WE HAD TO HAVE THOSE CHALLENGES RESOLVED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE HAD NO TIME TO REALLY DIG INTO THIS AND REALLY TRY TO GET SOME OF THESE ALTERNATIVES DONE.
ALTHOUGH, AS I INDICATED IN MY PRESENTATION, WE DID EXPLORE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE.
AND I BELIEVE, UH, ALSO, THERE WAS NO TOWN IN NEW JERSEY WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND, CORRECT? IT WAS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE WAS NO, NO, NO, UH, SETTLEMENT.
EVERYBODY HAD THE SAME TIME LIMITS.
IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY MR. PRIME, THAT WE HAD NO TIME BECAUSE YOU, WITH THE OLD MAYOR CHARLES WATSON SPOT ZONED PROPERTY OUT BY THE FARM DURING COVID FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
NOW, HOW DOES LAND GET REZONED FROM AGRICULTURE USE TO HIGH DENSITY BUILDING? HOW DOES, HOW DOES ONE DO THAT WITH A HUNDRED ACRES OF LAND? DO DO, DOES THE TOWNSHIP CONTACT THEM? DO THEY CONTACT THE TOWNSHIP? BECAUSE YOUR EXPERT HERE IS SAYING THAT HE LEFT YOU GUYS NO TIME.
NOW, MR. WATSON, YOU KNOW THAT'S A LIE BECAUSE YOU LITERALLY REZONED THIS WHOLE FARM.
THE REASON THEY DON'T DEBATE STUFF IS BECAUSE IT'S BAD.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA RENEW HIM FOR ANOTHER YEAR, WELL, I GUESS I GOT ANOTHER YEAR COMING UP HERE AND BUSTING PEOPLE'S CHOPS BECAUSE THIS IS BS.
YOU GUYS HAVE KNOWN FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS THAT YOU WERE GONNA BUILD OUT THERE BY OUR FARM.
MY QUESTION IS, IS HOW COME WE DIDN'T LET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE RESIDENTS KNOW ABOUT THIS? IS IT, ARE WE GONNA GO WITH A, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME, BUT WE, WE REZONED THIS WHOLE FARM FOR HIGH DENSITY BUILDING.
I CAN'T EVEN PARK TRUCKS AT MY FARM.
AND A GUY UP THE STREET REZONES A HUNDRED ACRES TO MASS DENSITY BUILDING.
HOW ARE NEIGHBORS NOT GETTING LETTERS FROM THAT? NOW I KNOW YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO RIP MY HEAD OFF.
[00:40:01]
I UNDERSTAND THAT.I KNOW YOU NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL OF THE LIES THAT YOU SPREAD.
'CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE REAL EASY TO GET 'EM.
HERE'S ANOTHER THING, THERE'S A RESIDENT IN HERE.
HE TRIED TO HOOK UP TO YOUR SEWER SYSTEM TWICE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TOWNSHIP SAID? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE LAW FIRM SAID? WE'RE OVER CAPACITY.
NOW, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, DID ANYBODY AT ANY POINT GO TO THE STATE AND SAY, HEY, OUR SEWER IS NEAR CAPACITY.
CAN WE TRY TO NEGOTIATE THESE NUMBERS DOWN SINCE WE'VE SAT ON OUR ASS FOR FIVE YEARS AND DONE NOTHING? LET THIS, WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT KNOW.
'CAUSE I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND I, I WILL BELIEVE THEM OVER YOU.
THAT IS FOR SURE BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN CAUGHT YOU IN ADVICE AND IT'S SIMPLE.
AND THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVEN'T LIED.
THE THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WHY NOT BE UPFRONT WITH THE RESIDENTS? HE'S UP HERE SAYING THEY GAVE YOU NO TIME.
SO CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHY FIVE YEARS AGO THEY REZONED THIS FARM OUT HERE? THIS A HUNDRED ACRES FROM, WENT FROM AGRICULTURE TO TO, TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING NOW? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? MIKE WASN'T HERE.
LIKE HOW DID THIS LAND GET REZONED BECAUSE YOUR EXPERT SAYING, I'M GONNA STOP THE, THEY HAD NO TIME.
I'M GONNA STOP THE TIME LIMIT.
I'M GONNA GO OVER CONVERSATION.
YOU WANNA STOP ME? GET UP HERE AND TRY TO STOP YOU.
I'M GONNA STOP THE TIME LIMIT.
THANK I WANTED KNOW FOR A SECOND UNTIL I'M DONE AND THEN YOU CAN FINISH HERE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TINGER CHALLENGER.
ALL THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW.
SO THE, WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING THE 800 HOMES, HOW DID THAT GET REZONED FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO DURING COVID? YOU FINISH, I'LL ANSWER.
THE SEWER PLANT IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.
I'VE HAD MULTIPLE RESIDENTS TELL ME THAT THE SEWER PLANT THAT THEY WERE TOLD YOU GOTTA REDO A SEPTIC.
WE'RE OVER CAPACITY AND HERE COMES THE BUILDERS.
BY THE WAY, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUYS, 50 YEARS THAT'S BEEN HERE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT HASN'T BEEN IN HERE FOR 50 YEARS? MI WATSON BROUGHT HIM IN 2015.
HE'S LITERALLY QUOTED IN THE PAPER.
WITHIN TWO YEARS HE'S UNDOING WHAT COUNCIL DID IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, THE COUNCIL IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS FIXED THE LAND OUT HERE, MADE IT SO THE BUILDERS, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BUILD.
THEY REZONED IT FOR WHAT, FOUR ACRE LOTS OR WHATEVER.
ALL EVERYTHING THAT HE'S UNDOING IS WHAT COUNSEL DID 20 YEARS AGO TO PREVENT THIS ALONG WHEN THERE WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE CAN ALL AGREE THIS IS 1975, RIGHT? I'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WHAT ABOUT STAGE ONE, TWO AND THREE OR OR TWO? WHAT ABOUT THE LOWER STAGES? THERE'S NOTHING AND THEN ALL, SO NOTHING IS DONE.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA BUILD THIS HUGE DEVELOPMENT.
DAVE, WHO'S PAYING FOR THE PIPES? WHO'S PAYING FOR THE PIPES? IS IT GONNA BE THE TAXPAYERS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT A TRASH CAN CALLS FOR THE TOWNSHIP? THEY'RE NOT CHEAP.
WHO'S PAYING FOR THE TRASH CANS? WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THE BUILDERS DO IT.
MEANWHILE, SOMEBODY GOES FOR A TINY VARIANCE AND THEY'RE GETTING HER GOING THROUGH THE REMAR.
ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. MEASURING YOUR ZONING OFFICER.
I'VE HAD THREE CUSTOMERS NOW TELL ME SHE WORKS FOUR HOURS A WEEK.
FRIDAYS ONE PERSON SAID FOUR HOURS, ANOTHER CUSTOMER SAID SIX HOURS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR TREE ORDINANCE AS TIME MAY, THAT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW.
AND SO ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR ZONE OFFICER'S NOT HERE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT PACK OF LIES THERE.
UM, NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN TURNED DOWN IF THEY HAVE A MALFUNCTIONING SEPTIC SYSTEM, NEVER BEEN TURNED DOWN TO HOOK INTO PUBLIC SEWER.
IF HE'S GOT PROOF, HE SHOULD COME UP HERE AND SAY IT.
NUMBER TWO, THE CHALLENGER PROPERTY WAS REZONED, EXCUSE ME, WAS DESIGNATED AS AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT AT THEIR REQUEST FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE HOPES THAT THEY COULD DEVELOP AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN, WHICH THEY TRIED TO DO AND COULDN'T AND ENDED UP APPLYING FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
[00:45:01]
REZONED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.IT WAS DECLARED TO BE AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT.
AND THEY THEN ENDED UP FIVE YEAR LATER SEEKING, UH, APPROVAL FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT WAS DEEMED TO BE A SUITABLE SITE UNDER COLOR REGULATIONS.
HI, UH, MY NAME'S TOM KENNY, UH, 29TH BALDWIN COURT.
I'M JUST TAKING NOTES, THAT'S ALL.
LIVED IN GO EAST FOR 40 YEARS.
JUST MOVED HERE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
I'M AT THE DEVELOPMENT DOWN ON MILL STREET, THE TOWNHOUSES, UH, I'LL SAY ONE THING.
DON'T LET REDFORD TURN INTO BOES.
RAIN OUT OF BOES BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
UH, AND LET ME DRIVE BACK THERE.
NOW IT'S LIKE WE THANK GOD WE GOT OUT OF THERE 'CAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS HORRIBLE.
THE BUILDING IS JUST GOING LEFT AND RIGHT.
UH, I'M NOT EVEN HERE FOR THAT TOPIC, BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION BECAUSE I WAS DEALING WITH KIND OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH PROPERTY BY OUR HOUSE THERE.
FINALLY WE SAID, LOOK, WE'RE JUST SELLING AND MOVING BECAUSE IT WAS JUST, I GUESS IT GOT SO FRUSTRATING, OKAY.
UH, IN DEALING WITH THE PLANNING BOARD AND FOLLOWER AND EVERYTHING.
UH, I WAS JUST SAYING ON ANOTHER NOTE ABOUT BUILDING LOTS HERE, WE LOOKED FOR A BUILDING LOT.
THERE WAS NO BUILDING LOTS REALLY.
UH, SO REALLY NOTHING TO BUILD ON IN, UH, MEDFORD.
SO THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP ON MILL STREET.
UH, NOW THAT BRINGS, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, MY QUESTION IS, UH, I, IT'S THE ASSOCIATION IS BEING, OR THE DEVELOPMENT'S BEING TURNED OVER TO THE ASSOCIATION FROM, UH, JP ORINE.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP IS ABOUT, UH, SINCE WE'RE PAYING TAXES FOR, YOU KNOW, ROAD MAINTENANCE AND TRASH REMOVAL, ALL THAT STUFF, SOMEONE SAID WE CAN TURN THE ROADS OVER TO THE TOWNSHIP TO TAKE ON THOSE SERVICES.
AND, AND IS THERE A PROCEDURE TO DO THAT? HOW WOULD THAT WORK? IF YOU WANNA PURSUE, I, I I CONFESS, I DON'T KNOW THE CONDITIONS OF THE PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL.
YOU TALKING ABOUT MEDFORD RUN? IS THAT WHERE YOU LIVE? YES.
UM, I THINK THOSE ROADS ULTIMATELY WILL BECOME PUBLIC, BUT I'M NOT SURE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL WAS, IF ITS A CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS WELL, WELL THEY OWN THE COMMON AREA FOR SURE.
THEY OWN THE COMMON AREA FOR SURE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE ROADS ARE COMMON AREA OR NOT.
IF THEY ARE, IF THEY, OKAY, IF, IF THE PLANNING BOARD APPROVED THE PROJECT OKAY.
BASED ON IT BEING PRIVATE STREETS, IT WOULD BE THE HOMEOWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IF, IF NOT, ULTIMATELY THE ROADS WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE TOWNSHIP WHEN THE, UH, PERFORMANCE BONDS AND MAINTENANCE BONDS ARE DONE, WHICH ARE NOT DONE YET.
SO THAT WAS, IT'S EITHER ONE OF THE TWO.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS.
AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT I WASN'T, THIS ISN'T THE PLANNING BOARD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, YEAH.
SO WE'D HAVE TO LOOK IT UP AND FIND OUT FOR YOU.
SO IS THAT, SHOULD I GO TO A PLANNING BOARD MEETING? NO, NO, YOU CAN, UH, WE'LL MAKE A NOTE AND WE'LL, IT'S PROBABLY, UM, IF YOU GO ONTO THE TOWNSHIP CLERK'S WEBSITE OKAY.
AND YOU CLICK ON E CODE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE PLANNING BOARD RESOLUTION OFF OF E CODE.
IT'S WITHIN THE PAST, I THINK THREE YEARS, TARA? YEAH.
WE HAVE THREE YEARS WORTH THE PLANNING BOARD.
AND THIS WAS APPROVED AND THIS WAS APPROVED AFTER THAT.
SO IF IT'S NOT, WE CAN GET IT FOR YOU ANY WHICH WAY, BUT IT'S EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER.
SO IF IT WAS, IF IT WAS APPROVED AS A PRIVATE COMMUNITY, THEN THERE'S NO CHANCE OF EVER TURNING TO NO, IT, IT, THAT WOULD BE BASED ON ALL THE, THE ECONOMICS OF THE, OF, OF THE APPROVAL OF THE SUBDIVISION.
THAT, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
THERE'S, THERE'S 25,000 OTHER RESIDENTS, SO PLEASE NOT, HERE WE GO.
MY NAME IS MEGAN MONTY, 2 1 6 CHURCH ROAD.
UH, MR. HORNICK, I HOPE THE CONFERENCE WAS FUN IN ATLANTIC CITY AND YOU LEARNED A LOT, MR. PRIME, IN REFERENCE TO THE SEWERS, DO THE SEWERS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION? WHY DON'T YOU FINISH, I'LL, I'LL KEEP TRACK OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND I'LL ANSWER WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE REQUESTED TO PRIVATELY FUND A SEWER AND WAS THAT GRANTED OR DENIED IN TERMS OF THE L-I-H-T-C? HAS METFORD TOWNSHIP MADE ANY ATTEMPT
[00:50:01]
TO RECEIVE FUNDING? I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT FOR? THE WHAT? WELL, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MAYOR, I, WHY DON'T WE TRY TO JUST, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER AS WE GO.'CAUSE RESIDENT, I'M TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE QUESTIONS.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION WAS SEWER, UM, CORRECT.
WE HAD TO PROVE TO THE COURT THAT WE HAD ENOUGH SEWER FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
AND WE DO, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T LET ANYBODY ELSE HOOK UP EXCEPT IF YOU HAVE A AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
'CAUSE WE HAD TO RESERVE THE SEWER FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
AND WILL MEDFORD SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY USE ITS SEWER FOR THE AFFORDABLE? IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL WE HAVE, YES, WE DO HAVE ENOUGH FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH WE HAVE APPROVED, YOU KNOW, AS THEY CAME UP.
BUT RESIDENTIAL, NOBODY GETS A, A PERMIT UNLESS IT'S AN AFFORDABLE HAZARD PROJECT, EXCEPT FOR THE SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A MALFUNCTIONING, UH, SEPTIC.
WE DO KEEP ENOUGH CAPACITY TO, TO, UH, LET THOSE PEOPLE HOOK UP.
IN TERMS OF THE PROJECT ON THE ON 70, WAS PART OF MARLTON SEWER USED FOR THAT PROJECT? NO.
AND L-I-H-T-C THAT STANDS FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT MORRISTOWN RECEIVED 35 MILLION OF FUNDS.
AND MY QUESTION IS, HAS MEDFORD MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS? UH, TAX CREDITS WERE GIVEN FROM THE FUND FOR BOTH AMEND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE, WHICH IS THE ONE BACK HERE.
AND ALSO THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA PROJECT ON HARTFORD ROAD.
BOTH OF THOSE WERE TAX CREDIT FUNDED.
BUT, BUT THEY'RE ONLY ELIGIBLE IF IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED SUCH THAT THE LANDLORD DOESN'T, LET'S SAY RENT OUT AN AFFORDABLE UNIT AT A FULL RATE? MM-HMM
WHO IS THE GOVERNING BODY THAT OVERSEES THAT? WE HAVE A CONSULTANT, TRIAD ASSOCIATES.
HE DOES A LOT OF WORK FOR A LOT OF TIMES THEY MONITOR IT FOR US.
AND HOW DO THEY MONITOR IT? WELL, THEY, THEY, THEY GET THE APPLICATIONS.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE QUALIFY.
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW YOU MONITOR IT.
WHAT IF I HAVE A CONCERN THAT THERE ARE UNITS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY EXCLUSIVELY USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? I DUNNO WHAT YOU MEAN.
IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE'S SOMEONE IN A WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN AFFORDABLE UNIT, IT DOESN'T QUALIFY NO OPPOSITE.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHAT IF THERE ARE UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE BUT AREN'T RENTED OUT AS AFFORDABLE? WELL, THEY HAVE TO BE QUALIFIED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A 30 YEAR DEED RESTRICTION ON THEM.
AND IF THEY ARE, THEN TRIAD MONITORS WHO, WHO RENTS OR OWNS THEM.
WHO OVERSEES TRIAD? TRIAD ASSOCIATES IS OUR CONSULTANT.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHO OVERSEES THEM WITH ALL DUE RESPECT? WELL, THE STATE WE FILED, WE FILED REPORT, THEY FILED REPORTS WITH THE STATE.
AND IN REFERENCE TO THE L-I-H-T-C HAVE, HAS MEDFORD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO RECEIVE THEM FOR THE FOURTH ROUND? WE HAVE NO QUALIFIED PROJECTS.
WE HAVE NO PROJECTS TO QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDIT FINANCING.
AND IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, YOU WOULD NEED A PROPERTY THAT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT EXCLUSIVE, A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN THE FOURTH ROUND.
THAT'S WHAT I EXPLAINED EARLIER TONIGHT.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY NOT IN THE PLAN OR THERE'S NOT AVAILABLE LAND FOR THAT.
WE COULDN'T FIND A SITE FOR VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FOR ONE.
WE COULDN'T FIND A SITE THAT COULD AFFORD TO DO IT.
IS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA THE ONLY ENTITY THAT DOES THAT KIND OF WORK? NO.
THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER ENTITIES.
UM, WATERS GROUP DOES AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DING ING GROUP HAS A, UH, SITE IN MEDFORD.
NO ONE COULD FIND A SITE FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE.
WHAT IF A LANDOWNER WAS AGREEABLE, THEN IT WOULD HAPPEN.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT SOME SECOND.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS TO ANY OF THESE? UH, ONE ONE THAT I'LL SAY IS JUST, JUST AN ELECTION COMMENT.
UH, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY IN THIS LAST ELECTION TO, UH, MAKE SOME CHANGES AT A STATE LEVEL.
AND SIMPLY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY OPTED NOT TO.
[00:55:01]
I CAN SAY THAT QUITE, QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.AND, UH, THE VOTERS REALLY CHOSE THIS PATH.
ONE OF THE CANDIDATES ABSOLUTELY RAN ON A PLATFORM OF REMOVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CHANGING THAT DRAMATICALLY.
AND SO HERE IS ONE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE SEE, AGAIN, THIS IS COURT MANDATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NO DESIRE FOR THIS IN OUR TOWN.
WELCOME THE PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY.
BUT DO NOT HAVE THE DESIRE TO HAVE OUR TOWN FORCED UPON DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT STATEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC.
I RECALL REACHING OUT TO MR. PRIME ABOUT THOSE OTHER OPTIONS AND HE CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WERE JUST NOT AVAILABLE TO US AT THIS TIME.
WE, WE DON'T WANNA SEE IT ANYMORE THAN THE REST OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MEDFORD.
UM, I I, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ADDRESSING ONE PARTICULAR PERSON OR, OR MANY THAT MADE THIS COMMENT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE SCHOOLS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT, UM, THAT'S A DIFFERENT GOVERNING BODY THAT MONITORS, THERE'S SCHOOLS, BUT, UM, SEVERAL US HERE EITHER GONE TO THESE SCHOOLS OR HAVE CHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL.
SO MIKE MICROPHONE, AM I NOT SPEAKING INTO? I APOLOGIZE.
UM, SO IN REGARDS TO THE SCHOOLS, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED AND, UM, THE CONCERNS THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE BRINGING TO US.
THE COMMENTS MADE THOUGH THAT WE ARE NOT ENGAGING WITH THE SCHOOLS, I THINK IS AN UNFAIR STATEMENT TO MAKE IN PUBLIC.
UM, MS. MILK AND I HAVE BEEN TO, I BELIEVE EVERY COUNCIL, UM, SORRY, EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, I'VE SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THERE TO TRY TO AT LEAST GET OUR ARMS WRAPPED AROUND WHAT WILL COME OF THIS OVER TIME.
UM, OUR, OUR CHILDREN, MY CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M SIMPLY BRUSHING UNDER THE RUG AND SAYING, UH, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THE SCHOOL, HAPPENS TO THE SCHOOL.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE WANNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AND WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THEM TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE RESOLUTION HERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AS MAYOR WEBSTOCK STATED, UM, WHILE WE WELCOME THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE FEEL TERRIBLE.
WHAT IT'S, WHAT THE OVERALL MASS POPULATION WILL DO TO OUR SCHOOLS.
SOME OF THE NUMBERS I, I'D LIKE TO NOTE, I SEE YOUR REPORT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND EMAILING IT TO US.
UM, AND THEN COMING NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MEETING, EXCUSE ME TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE.
BUT, UM, WE'RE VERY AWARE OF THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE TO THE SCHOOLS.
[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT ]
THANK YOU MAYOR.UH, I JUST HAVE A REQUEST ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR APPROVAL OF TWO NEW EMS VOLUNTEER MEMBERS.
SHELBY MCELWEE AND COREY MCQUILLAN.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPLICANT'S? ALRIGHT.
JUST THANKFUL THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY'S.
ALRIGHT, SO ALL IN FAVOR A AYE.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE APPROVED.
CHIEF, IF YOU CAN THANK THEM FOR US AND, AND WELL DONE CONTINUING TO RECRUIT SO WELL.
AND WE DO HAVE A CLERK'S REPORT
[IX. CLERK’S REPORT ]
THIS EVENING.YES, WE JUST HAVE A ONE SOCIAL AFFAIR PERMIT FESTIVAL.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CLERK'S REPORT.
ALRIGHT, THE REPORT IS ACCEPTED.
[X. BILL LIST ]
ONE BILL LIST FOR THIS EVENING TO ACCEPT FOR NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025.I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BILL IS SO SECOND.
OPPOSED? ALL THE BILL IS ARE ACCEPTED.
WE HAVE NO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION.
[XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S) ]
FOR SECOND READING.WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 20 25 19? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 19 AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
CHAPTER 1 28 ARTICLE THREE, WILDLIFE FEEDING TO ADD A NEW SECTION 1 28 DASH 12 FERAL CATS.
ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, THIS ORDINANCE PROHIBITS FEEDING OF FERAL CATS.
IF SUCH FEEDING CAUSES A NUISANCE TO NEIGHBORS OR CREATES A CONDITION CONTRARY TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY, THOSE FEEDING FERAL CATS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COOPERATE WITH ANY HUMANE PROGRAM THAT TRAPS FERAL CATS FOR SPAYING, NEUTERING, IMMUNIZING THE CATS FROM RABIES AND TIPPING THE CATS LEFT EAR AND RETURNING IT TO ITS ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO WE'LL NOW OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP, RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL BRING YOU UP AND RECEIVE YOUR COMMENTS.
[01:00:01]
COMMENTS AS TO THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE? ALL RIGHT.SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO SECOND.
ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS? UH, ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION PLEASE.
I SO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 20.
I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT ON SECOND REAM ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 20 AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD, CHAPTER ONE 13, PEDDLING AND SOLICITING.
THANK YOU FOR THE MATTER OF EXPLANATION.
THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS A FIVE DAY EXTENSION FOR EACH POLICE INVESTIGATION.
IF THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING APPROVAL FOR MULTIPLE SOLICITORS AND ALSO ESTABLISHES HOURS FOR SOLICITING OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH MARCH 31ST FROM 10:00 AM TO 6:00 PM AND REQUIRES CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
AND WE'LL OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS? ALL ROLL.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 21? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 21 AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD TO ADOPT A NEW CHAPTER 49 A ENTITLED NUISANCE BAMBOO.
SO THIS NEW CHAPTER MEANS TO PROTECT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY FROM DAMAGING SPREAD OF NUISANCE BAMBOO GRASS.
AND IT DETAILS THE STANDARDS OF CONTAINMENT, MEASURES AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT? SO MOVED.
ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS? I JUST, I JUST BRIEFLY LIKE IT REALLY IS AN INVASIVE PLANT.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE, YOU KNOW, DO JACKING THIS DOWN.
THERE'S SOME FRIENDS OF MINE THAT HAVE REALLY GONE THROUGH CRAZY EFFORTS TO TRY AND CAN'T HEAR YOU THIS STUFF.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD ORDINANCE.
I'M GLAD WE'RE TIGHTENING UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND MR. PRIME, I KNOW YOU, YOU WORK DILIGENTLY WITH MR. NIKKO AND SOME, SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS AS WELL TO YES.
MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS TIGHTENED UP TO, I HAVE ALL HIS EMAILS HERE WITH SUGGESTED CHANGES.
YOU KNOW, WE DID INCORPORATE SOME OF HIS SUGGESTIONS.
NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT I IT DOES, IT DOES REFLECT HIS COMMENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, WE'LL CALL FOR ADOPTION PLEASE.
DEPUTY MAYOR? AYE MAYOR SCOTT? AYE.
ALRIGHT, THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
UH, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 22? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 22 AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE DASH 31.9 ENTITLED MEDFORD ALLIANCE GROUP.
SO THIS AMENDMENT CHANGES THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP AND SO THE GROUP WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE TWO OF THE FIVE MEMBERS TO BE ON TOWNSHIP COUNCIL.
ALL FIVE MEMBERS NEED TO BE MEDFORD RESIDENTS.
SO WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS FOR A MATTER OF PUBLIC COMMENT? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
DEPUTY NURSE AYE MAYOR AYE MY PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COUNSEL COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION.
ALRIGHT, THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA
[XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS ]
RESOLUTIONS, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 180 8 DASH 2025 AMENDING RESOLUTION 1 7 7 8 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING CANCELLATION OF FINAL 2025 SLASH PRELIMINARY 2026 PROPERTY TAXES ON PROPERTY OWNED BY A QUALIFYING TOTALLY DISABLED EXEMPT VETERAN RESOLUTION 180 9 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING CORRECTION OF ERRONEOUS BILLING AND REFUND OF 2025 TAX OVERPAYMENT RESOLUTION ONE 90 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING REFUND OF 2025.TAX OVERPAYMENTS RESOLUTION 1 91 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING CANCELLATION OF FINAL 2025 PRELIMINARY 2026 PROPERTY TAXES ON PROPERTY OWNED BY A QUALIFYING TOTALLY DISABLED EXEC VETERAN RESOLUTION 1 92 DASH 2025
[01:05:01]
AUTHORIZING SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY ON GOV DEALS.COM RESOLUTION 1 93 DASH 2025 ISSUING PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE TO MEDFORD L-Q-L-L-C RESOLUTION 1 94 DASH 2025 APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE WITH C STEVENSON AND SUN INCORPORATED FOR THE MAIN PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS.PROJECT RESOLUTION 1 95 DASH 2025 AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH ERI FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT FOR CRANBERRY HALL.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AS TO THE CONSENT AGENDAS RESOLUTIONS? MY ONLY COMMENT IS ON 1 92 20 25 I BET WE'RE GONNA GET A TON OF MONEY FOR THAT LOT OF TYPEWRITERS THAT ARE SELLING
DOES ANYBODY EVEN DO SOMETHING? PERHAPS WE SHOULD SAVE THEM AS AN INVESTMENT.
WE CAN SELL THEM AS AN ANTIQUES IN UH, IT COSTS MORE TO PRINT THE RESOLUTION AND HAVE YOU VOTE WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET OUT OF THE SALE.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT CONSENT? RE UH, CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
AYE THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED.
WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS EVENING.
[XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
SESSION RESOLUTION ES 11 0 6 20 25.PERSONNEL PUBLIC BODY APPOINTMENT NJS A TEN FOUR DASH 12 B SECTION EIGHT AND ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LITIGATION AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATION NJSA TEN FOUR DASH 12 B SECTION SEVEN.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS 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 WILL BE SOME LENGTH OF TIME AND SOME ACTION MAY BE TAKEN.
UH, NOW RECONVENE THE OPEN PORTION OF THE MEETING.
WE DISCUSSED ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN SO MOVE SECOND.
OPPOSED? MEETING IS ADJOURNED OF.