* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT] [00:00:04] I CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL. THIS MEETING IS CALLED IN PURSUANT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. THIS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026 IS INCLUDED IN A MEETING NOTICE SENT TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES IN THE CENTRAL RECORD ON JANUARY 7TH, 2026, AND ADVERTISED AND SAID NEWSPAPERS ON JANUARY 11TH, 2026, AND IN JA ON END ON JANUARY 15TH, 2026 RESPECTIVELY POSTED ON THE WEBSITE FROM THE BULLETIN BOARD IN, IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON JANUARY 7TH, 2026, AND HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY POSTED AS REQUIRED UNDER STATUTE. IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND IS ON FILE AT THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK. PLEASE WRITE US FOR THE FLAGS PLEDGE TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. UH, MSR, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MS. SANCOR. HERE. MR. COX. HERE. MS. MILL. HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR JORGE. HERE. MAYOR SCISSOR HERE. ALRIGHT. THIS EVENING WE HAVE [IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda] THREE VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AS SLIGHTLY OUT OF ORDER. I APOLOGIZE THE WAY THE AGENDA WAS, BUT I THINK I FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE TO, UM, DO OUR VERY FIRST, VERY SPECIAL POPULATION THIS EVENING FOR THE ROSS FAMILY WITH ELIZABETH AND SKYLAR. JOIN US UP FRONT. RIGHT THERE IS GOOD HERE. SORRY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. MEDFORD IS A COMMUNITY BUILT ON CARE, RESPONSIBILITY AND STEPPING UP WHEN IT MATTERS MOST. TONIGHT BEFORE READING THIS PROCLAMATION, WE PAUSE THE RECOGNIZE THAT HEROISM DOES NOT ALWAYS WEAR A UNIFORM, BUT IT ALWAYS REFLECTS THE VERY BEST IN WHO WE ARE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. PROCLAMATION HONORING ELIZABETH ROSS AND SKYLAR ROSS. WHEREAS ON JANUARY 20TH, A POTENTIALLY TRAGIC ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT BIRCHWOOD LAKES. WHEN A YOUNG LADY, A YOUNG BOY, A YOUNG BOY, EXCUSE ME, A YOUNG BOY, A THIRD GRADER STUDENT WHO WAS DEAF, STEPPED ONTO A FROZEN LAKE, FELL THROUGH THE ICE AND BECAME SUBMERGED IN THE WATER. AND WHEREAS THE CHILD'S BROTHERS QUICKLY BEGAN SHOUTING AND SIGNALING FOR HELP IN A MOMENT OF GREAT DISTRESS AND URGENCY. AND WHEREAS SKYLAR ROSS, AGE 11 RECOGNIZED THE EMERGENCY AND IMMEDIATELY ALERTED HER MOTHER, ELIZABETH ROSS, THAT A BOY WAS DROWNING. AND WHEREAS WITHOUT HESITATION AND WITH COMPLETE, COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HER OWN SAFETY, ELIZABETH ROSS RUSHED TO THE SCENE AND PULLED THE YOUNG CHILD FROM THE ICY WATER. AND WHEREAS THE SWIFT ACTIONS, COURAGE, AND SELFLESSNESS DEMONSTRATED BY ELIZABETH ROSS, ALONG WITH THE AWARENESS AND QUICK THINKING OF SKYLAR ROSS DIRECTLY RESULTED IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A NEIGHBOR AND FELLOW MEMBER OF THE MEDFORD COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THEIR HEROISM, THEIR HEROIC RESPONSES REFLECT THE VERY BEST OF THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT, COMPASSION, AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS IN A MOMENT OF CRITICAL NEED. AND WHEREAS THE MEDFORD TOWN, THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD, RECOGNIZES THAT ORDINARY CITIZENS CAN PERFORM EXTRAORDINARY ACTS. AND ELIZABETH AND SKYLER ROSS EXEMPLIFY BRAVERY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND CARE FOR OTHERS. NOW, FOR LET IT BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD DO HEREBY HONOR AND CONDONE ELIZABETH ROSS AND SKYLER ROSS FOR THE HEROIC AND LIFESAVING ACTIONS ON JANUARY 20TH, AND EXTEND THE GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR COURAGE AND SELF SELFLESSNESS SERVICE, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THEIR ACTIONS STAND AS AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE TO RESIDENTS ALL AGES AND A REMINDER OF THE STRENGTH AND COMPASSION FOUND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SO MUCH [00:05:02] THANK YOU. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SWAG, BUT, UM, IN HONOR OF THE ACHIEVEMENT THAT YOU, YOU RECEIVED, WE'RE PRESENTING YOU WITH A CIVILIAN LIFESAVING AWARD FROM MEDFORD. LET'S GET SOME RIGHT TONIGHT. WE'RE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE GROUP THAT TRULY REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF MEDFORD MEDFORD. VINCENT, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT. I'LL REPEAT THAT TONIGHT. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE A GROUP THAT TRULY REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF MEDFORD, THE MEDFORD, VINCENT TOWN ROTARY. FOR DECADES, ROTARY MEMBERS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR TIME, TALENT, AND ENERGY TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR WORK TOUCHES RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES, AND THEIR IMPACT CAN BE SEEN ALL YEAR LONG, BUT ESPECIALLY IN ONE OF MEDFORD'S MOST BELOVED TRADITIONS, OUR HALLOWEEN PARADE. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL IS THAT THE PARADE HELPS MUCH, HELPS SO MUCH MORE BECAUSE IT GIVES BACK THROUGH THIS EVENT AND OTHER FUNDRAISERS, INCLUDING KARAOKE WITH COPS. THE ROAD, THE ROTARY AWARDS, OVER $70,000 IN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY PROVIDES DICTIONARIES TO THIRD GRADERS, HOST THE EASTER EGG HUNT, THE FATHER'S DAY FISHING DERBY, SUPPORTS SPECIAL NEED DANCE PARTIES WITH THE PHILADELPHIA, WITH THE PHILLY FANATIC, AND SEND STUDENTS TO THE ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, ALSO KNOWN AS RY. AND SO MUCH MORE. THIS IS TRULY SERVICE ABOVE SELF. WE'RE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE 2026 ROTARY LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS HONOR ALL THE MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT THAT HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY PRESIDENT MIKE SPENCER, PRESIDENT-ELECT, TOM UMBER, HAUER SECRETARY PAUL ETTES, RECORDING SECRETARY BILL HARRIS, TREASURER TROY HAYNES, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR ROBERT HARRIET, EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR LISA AUER, EVENT CHAIR KRISTEN ANISE, PUBLIC RELATIONS. KIM THEUS THEUS, I APOLOGIZE. GRANT AND DONATIONS CHAIR PETER JOHNSON AND SERGEANT IN ARMS, ELVIS PTA ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, GENEROSITY AND THE COUNTLESS WAYS YOU STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY. I STAND BEFORE YOU HONOR TO READ YOUR PROCLAMATION AND HUMBLED TO CALL YOU ALL MENTORS AND FRIENDS, IF YOU COULD COME UP. ALL RIGHT. NO PRESSURE. . YEAH, LET'S, LET'S CIRCLE AROUND HERE. WELL, SO COME ON. THE, THE, ALL RIGHT. IT'S ACTUALLY WORKED OUT GOOD. PROCLAMATION HONORING METFORD VINCENT TOWN ROTARY, WHEREAS FOUNDED IN 1939 AND WITH 61 MEMBERS TODAY, THE MEDFORD VINCENT TOWN ROTARY HAS LONG BEEN DEDICATED, LONG BEEN A DEDICATED PARTNER IN STRENGTHENING THE MEDFORD COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND [00:10:01] A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS. AND WHEREAS ROTARY MEMBERS APPLY THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, PERSONAL INTEGRITY, AND SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS, SUPPORT YOUTH, AND PROMOTE GOODWILL AND FELLOWSHIP. AND WHEREAS SINCE 1947, THE METFORD VINCENT TOWN ROTARY HAS PROUDLY ORGANIZED MEDFORD'S BELOVED HALLOWEEN PARADE, A TRADITION THAT BEGAN WHEN THE TOWNSHIP SOUGHT A SAFE AND POSITIVE HALLOWEEN SEASON ACTIVITY FOR THE YOUTH, FOR THE LOCAL YOUTH. AND WHICH HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE MOST CHERISHED EVENTS IN OUR TOWN'S HISTORY. AND WHEREAS FROM IT TUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF COSTUME MARCHERS, A FEW, A FEW FLOATS, FIRE ENGINES, AND A BAND, THE PARADE HAS GROWN INTO A SPECTACULAR ANNUAL CELEBRATION, FEATURING MORE THAN 10 MARCHING BANDS. 40 HANDBUILT FLOATS HUNDREDS OF COSTUME PARTICIPANTS AND DRAWING OVER 20,000 SPECTATORS EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS THE HALLOWEEN PARADE REPRESENTS A TRUE LABOR OF LOVE BY GENERATIONS OF ROTARIAN MEMBERS, AND STANDS AS THE CLUB'S LARGEST ANNUAL UNDERTAKING AND PRIMARY FUNDRAISER WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PROCEEDS RETURNING DIRECTLY TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT AND OTHER FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE POPULAR KARAOKE WITH COPS, FUNDRAISERS SUPPORTING THE TOWNSHIP POLICE, THE METROTOWN ROTARY IS ABLE TO PROVIDE REMARKABLE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, INCLUDING AWARDING $70,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY, PROVIDING DICTIONARIES TO THIRD GRADERS, HOSTING ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT, FREEDOM PARK, FATHER'S DAY FISHING DERBY, SPONSORING A JOYFUL SPECIAL NEEDS DANCE PARTY, FUNDING LOCAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATION IN RILA, AND SUPPORTING NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. NOW FOR LET IT BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD DO HEREBY HONOR THE MEDFORD VINCENT TOWN ROTARY FOR ITS DECADES OF SERVICE AND FOR ITS CREATING AND SUSTAINING THE MEDFORD HALLOWEEN PARADE, ONE OF THE TOWNSHIP'S MOST CHERISHED AND UNIFIED TRADITIONS, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP EXTENDS ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE ROTARIAN'S LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ITS ROLES IN ENRICHING THE LIVES AND GENERATIONS OF MEDFORD RESIDENTS. THANK YOU GUYS. YOU MIND TAKING A, SOMEBODY TAKE A PICTURE OF THE MAYOR. WE SHOULD MOVE THAT. THANKS SIR. THANKS SIR. YEP. OH YEAH. WE'RE GONNA DO THE PRESENTATION FROM UP. WE'LL GET YOU WRONG GLASSES. ALRIGHT, NOW FOR OUR THIRD PRESENTATION, UH, WE HAVE THE EAAC ANNUAL UPDATE PRESENTED BY THE ONE AND ONLY PAULA GALLEY. , THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME SAY YOU HAD TO MAKE THAT A LOT SHORTER. YEAH. IS THAT MY FEEDBACK? YEAH. SO I BROUGHT A SCRIPT TONIGHT 'CAUSE THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES. I WOULD TALK WAY TOO LONG. [00:15:01] SO IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME IF I REFER TO MY NOTES. SO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS SHARE. THIS BRIEF UPDATE ON THE WORK OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND GREEN TEAM, ALONG WITH OUR GREEN TEAM AUXILIARY IN 2025, OUR COMMITTEE CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON PRACTICAL COMMUNITY-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES THAT ENGAGE RESIDENTS AND DELIVER MEASURABLE, UH, RESULTS FOR MEDFORD. SOME OF OUR KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2025 INCLUDE HOSTING A VERY COLD BUT SUCCESSFUL TREE GIVEAWAY AND ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION, UH, SUPPORTING MEDFORD'S TREE CITY GOALS. IN SPITE OF THAT COLD, WE WEATHER, UH, RUNNING THE OCTOBER FEST RECYCLING PROJECT, UH, DIVERTING SIGNIFICANT WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL. IT WAS REPORTED THAT ABOUT 250 POUNDS OF THOSE PLASTIC GLASSES WERE RECYCLED. AND WE AIM TO DO THAT AGAIN. UH, THIS OCTOBER FEST, UH, WE ACHIEVED AND WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR SUSTAINABLE, UH, JERSEY SILVER CERTIFICATION. THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A REBOOT RIGHT NOW, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GONNA MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR US TO ACHIEVE GOLD. 'CAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN, UM, A GOAL FOR US SECURING GRANT FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING. A LARGE, LAUNCHING A PARTNERSHIP WITH GARDEN STATE COMPOSTING FOR A COMMUNITY BASED, UM, COMPOSTING PROJECT. IT'S ALL ABOUT SAVING THOSE TIPPING FEES. UH, WE HOSTED THE BURLINGTON COUNTY GREEN TEAMS ROUND TABLE. WE'VE HOSTED IT TWICE HERE IN MEDFORD, AND WE'RE WORKING ON CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THEM IN PROJECTS. I'LL TALK TO THAT WHEN WE GET TO 2026. AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND SUPPORT OUR GREEN TEAM AUXILIARY, THEY MEET REGULARLY AS WELL. SO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SHOW AN IMPACT ON THE THINGS THAT WE DO. SO WHILE TREX IS REDOING, UH, THEIR PORTAL FOR THEIR RECYCLING PROJECT SINCE 2021, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP FIVE TONS OF THAT NON-TRADITIONALLY RECYCLABLE PLASTIC OUT OF THE LANDFILL. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT FIVE TONS, I THINK ABOUT SOME VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE WITH ME TONIGHT. WE AVERAGE ABOUT A HUNDRED POUNDS A WEEK STUFFED. AND LITERALLY, WHEN I SAY STUFFED, I MEAN WE THROW BODIES ONTO IT TO PUSH IT INTO THE CAR. AND I KNOW MY SUV CAN ONLY HOLD ABOUT 90 POUNDS, AND THAT'S, THANK GOODNESS FOR REAR VIEW CAMERAS AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS 'CAUSE I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IF WE WERE TO TAKE THAT PLASTIC AND VISUALIZE IT, WE WOULD FILL THIS ENTIRE ROOM. WE'D HAVE TO TAKE THE SEATS OUT, BUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, FRONT TO BACK, WE WOULD BE FILLING THIS ROOM. SO THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. AND SO, UH, THEY'VE, THEY'RE REDOING THEIR PROGRAM AS WELL. THEY'RE CHANGING SOME OF THE THINGS. AND WE'VE DECIDED THAT, UH, FOR US, THE BONUS HAS BEEN KEEPING THAT PLASTIC OUT OF THE LANDFILL. AND WE'LL CONTINUE DOING IT SINCE JANUARY 16TH WITH THE HELP OF DPW, BRINGING THE, THE PLASTIC THAT'S IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY, AS WELL AS THE MEDFORD WOMEN'S CLUB QUAKER MEETING HOUSE. UM, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND DROP OFF PLACES THAT WE APPRECIATE. SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT GOING AND KEEP IT MOVING. SO LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026, I'M PRETTY LOUD . SO WE ARE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING, UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE PARTNERING WITH, UH, AN EVIL SCOUT PROJECT ON OUR COMMUNITY COMPOSTING PROJECT. SO WE'LL BE PUTTING THOSE APPLICATIONS OUT FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY VERY SOON. THEY'LL BE LOCATED AT THE COMMUNITY GARDENS AS WELL AS GRAVELEY HOLLOW. UM, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UH, WE'RE ALSO WORKING AT DEVELOPING THE EDUCATIONAL TRAILS IN, UH, ARBORETUM AT HARTFORD CROSSING PARK. UH, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO. UM, SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TIRED OF COMING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE WITH A BIKE RODEO ON MY AGENDA. IT'S BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. AND IT'S CONTINUING BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR WE'RE GONNA PULL SOMETHING OFF FOR BIKE SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE'RE ALSO, UM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GREEN TEAM, BURLINGTON COUNTY GREEN TEAM ROUNDTABLE. WE'RE GONNA BE THE HOST OF A REPAIR CAFE. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, SOME OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN LAST YEAR IN MOORESTOWN, WHERE A GROUP OF EXPERTS, UM, COMPUTER REPAIR, JEWELRY REPAIR, SEWING, UH, BIKE REPAIR, THEY'RE ALL THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO DO FREE SERVICE ONE DAY, A FREE SERVICE. AND WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING THAT. THIS, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE MAY. SO THAT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF [00:20:01] FUN. WE ALSO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE WORKING ON A HALLOWEEN, UH, COSTUME RECYCLING PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE TO RESIDENTS. SO RESIDENTS CAN GET RID OF SOME OLD COSTUMES AND OTHER PEOPLE COULD MAKE USE OF THEM. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE, AS I SAID, THE PLASTIC RECYCLING PROGRAM. WE'RE GROWING THE SUSTAINABLE MEDFORD, UH, WEB, UH, FACEBOOK PAGE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AND, AND FORM RESIDENTS ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES. WE ARE ALSO GONNA COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL GROUPS AND NONPROFITS ON A GREEN FAIR THIS YEAR. UM, WHICH I THINK IS GONNA BE A LOT OF FUN AND WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, EDUCATE IN A FUN WAY. I MEAN, I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT WHEN SOMEBODY COMES AND THEY HAVE FUN AND THEY TOUCH SOMETHING, THEY LEAVE WITH A DIFFERENT KIND OF PASSION AND WILLINGNESS TO, TO PARTICIPATE. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE OUR INITIATIVE, OUR CORE INITIATIVES, TREE CITY AND THE SUSTAINABLE JERSEY ACTIONS. SO I WANNA TELL YOU THAT WE AS A, A COMMITTEE AND THE AUXILIARY, WE APPRECIATE THE TOWN AND THE TOWNSHIP'S ADMINISTRATION, THE SUPPORT WITH ANGELA AND DANIEL AND ALL OF YOU. UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE MEDFORD AN EVEN MORE SUSTAINABLE PLEA PLACE TO LIVE. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE MY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF OUR GREEN TEAM AUXILIARY TO STAND FOR A MOMENT. SO YOU SEE, PLEASE, PLEASE COME UP. OH, THERE, COME ON UP. MUCH. SO, I'M ENTRUSTING FOR YOU TO GET TO DANIEL SO THAT HE CAN HANG IT UP. THIS IS SINCE 2019 WAS THE FIRST TIME WE ACHIEVED BRONZE STATUS REALLY COME UP. WOO-HOO. YOU HAVEN'T LEFT ME ALONE ALL THIS TIME NOW. SO IN 2019, WE RETRIEVED BONDS IN 2025 SILVER AND, AND I'M SORRY, 2022 SILVER AND THEN AGAIN IN 25. SO WE WILL RECERTIFY AGAIN IN 2028. SO DANIEL, THANK YOU AGAIN. AWESOME. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. COME ON, COME ON THIS SIDE SO WE CAN GET A PICTURE OF ME. WE'RE ALL ABOUT SAVING LIVES, SAVING THE TOWN, SAVING THE WORLD. ONE ANGLED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I LOVE THE THREE T-SHIRTS. YES. OUR LITTLE UNIFORM. MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST ADD, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE FOR ANGELA AND I TO WORK WITH THE, UM, EAAC AND CERTAINLY THE GREEN TEAM AS THEIR THEIR COMPANION ORGANIZATION. ANGELA IS THE DAILY LIAISON. I GET TO GO TO MEETINGS WHEN I CAN MAKE MEETINGS, BUT IT'S JUST, UH, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, ACTIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE, THAT'S WHAT THE EAAC DOES. THEY COME UP WITH IDEAS, THEY COME UP WITH EVENTS, AND THEN THEY DON'T HESITATE TO BRING THOSE TO ANGELA AND ME AND TO YOU IN TURN. AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND THEY IMPLEMENT IT. SO THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE PROUD OF 'EM BECAUSE THEY DO A LOT AS VOLUNTEERS AND THEY'RE VERY AUTHENTIC WITH WHAT THEY DO. AND LIKE LITERALLY WHEN PAUL AND I LAST YEAR WERE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING ANOTHER, PUTTING A BOX IN TOWN HALL TO COLLECT, RECYCLING IT, IT DIDN'T EVEN LAST. WE HAD TO PUT TWO BOXES IN. AND NOW WE'RE GOING LIKE, EVERY WEEK PUBLIC WORKS IS COMING OVER AND HAULING TWO BOX, TWO BAGS, GIANT BAGS WORTH. SO PEOPLE, WHEN WE MAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO HELP OUT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE GREEN TEAM AND EAC PEOPLE STEP UP AND OUR COMMUNITY STEPS UP. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT ALL OF THEM DOING THAT. THANK YOU. I'LL ECHO THAT AS WELL. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMMITTEES TO GO TO. AND THE ENTHUSIASM THAT COMES OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE IS FANTASTIC. AND THE EDUCATION AS WELL. IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COMMITTEE. [00:25:01] THANK YOU. WELL THEN I'M SUPER EXCITED 'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE STUCK WITH ME AS YOUR LIAISON , SO I GET THE MAIL. HOLD IT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND, AND YOUR TEAM, UM, AS DANIEL SAID, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL ORGANIZATION. YOU, YOU, IT'S, I WE CAN ALL FEEL HOW MUCH PASSION YOU HAVE FOR YOUR INITIATIVES AND IT, AND IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO US THAT, THAT YOU GUYS ARE WILLING TO GIVE ALL YOUR TIME AND ENERGY TO THAT PASSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S FOR THE SUPPORT. YEAH. THANK YOU. GREAT. UM, SO NOW WE WILL BE MOVING ON TO COMMUNICATIONS. UM, I HAVE ONE THAT I'D LIKE TO START WITH. WHEN THIS EVENING'S AGENDA WAS BEING FORMULATED, I WAS OUTTA TOWN FOR WORK DUE TO MY CONFLICT. DEPUTY MAYOR VORHEES AND COUNCILWOMAN MILK SAT IN ON OUR WEEKLY MAYOR'S MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY, WITH, EXCUSE ME, THE, THE BAT TOWNSHIP MANAGER. AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING, THE AGENDA WAS NOT COMPLETE. HOWEVER, WE WERE AWARE THAT FROM THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PLANNING BOARD, THAT WE WOULD AT LEAST HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS ON THIS AGENDA, DESIGNATING THE AREA NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT THE TWO PARCELS AS PART OF THE, AS PART OF OUR FOURTH ROUND HOUSING PLAN. AND THAT THESE RESOLUTIONS WERE TIME SENSITIVE TO SEND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR APPROVAL. NEVERTHELESS, WHEN THE AGENDA WAS RELEASED, IT LISTED THREE RESOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL TWO PREVIOUSLY KNOWN COUNSEL. BUT THE MAIN CHANGE OF THE TWO ORIGINAL RESOLUTIONS, AS WELL AS THE THIRD NEW RESOLUTION BEING THAT A REDEVELOPER FOR THESE PARCELS WAS BEING DESIGNATED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TO THE RESIDENCE THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER OF THE PARCELS IS THE ONE SELECTING THE REDEVELOPER. AND THE COUNCIL CANNOT CHANGE WHO THE PROPERTY OWNER SELLS THEIR PROPERTY TO. BUT AS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WE WERE UNAWARE THAT WE WERE AT THE POINT OF NAMING A REDEVELOPER FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE SELECTED. IN REVIEW, I'M SORRY, IN REVIEW OF THE PUBLISHED AGENDA, DEPUTY MAYOR VOORHEES AND I SPOKE AND SHE REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH OUR NEW ATTORNEY, MR. MCGUCKIN, FOR CLARIFICATION ON WHICH STEPS WE SHOULD BE AT IN REGARDS TO OUR COMP COMPLIANCE WITH THE COA MANDATES SINCE WE WERE, SINCE WE WERE OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WEREN'T AT THE POINT OF NAMING A REDEVELOPER DEPUTY MAYOR VORHEES, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO DISCUSS WHERE YOU'RE AT. THANK YOU. UM, I DID SORRY FOR MY VOICE IN ADVANCE. IT'S PROBABLY GONNA CRACK AND DO ALL KINDS OF FUN THINGS. UM, BUT AFTER CONSULTING WITH MR. MCG DUNCAN, UM, HE ADVISED US THAT WE CAN PRESS PAUSE ON NAMING A DEVELOPER TONIGHT. UM, IT WOULD ALSO GIVE HIM TIME TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO OUR COA TIMEFRAMES AND REPORT BACK TO US BY THE NEXT MEETING. THIS PAUSE WILL PROBABLY NOT AFFECT OUR MARCH 15TH, UM, DEADLINE, BUT IT DOES GIVE HIM TIME TO REVIEW AND ADVISE US, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HE'S BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A WEEK. UM, THAT BEING SAID, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE DURING OUR RESOLUTION SECTION TO REQUEST A MOTION TO AMEND RESOLUTIONS 45 AND 46 TO REMOVE THE DESIGNATION OF A DEVELOPER. ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO COMPLETELY TABLE RESOLUTION 47. UM, THIS WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TWO ACTIONS OF THE PLANNING BOARD, SETTING THE TWO PARCELS TO THE DCA. CONSIDERING THAT DCA APPROVAL TAKES ABOUT 30 DAYS, THAT WOULD STILL ALLOW US TO BE ON THE 30 DAY TIMELINE AND GIVE MR. MCG DUNCAN A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO REVIEW AND, UM, GIVE US AN UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS SHOULD BE. SURE. UM, I WILL ASK FOR THOSE MOTIONS WHEN WE GET TO RESOLUTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ABSOLUTELY. ALRIGHT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS? MR. MAYOR? I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, UH, THANK THE, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE JOB THAT THEY DID DURING THIS RECENT STORM. I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY, UH, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT WE HAD AND, AND IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS SINCE WE HAD THAT AMOUNT OF SNOW. UH, BUT I ALSO JUST WANNA ECHO THE MAYOR SENTIMENTS IN HIS MAYOR'S MESSAGE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE PATIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE, THERE'S A SAW SHORTAGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT EVERYBODY'S WORKING WITH, AND I KNOW THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY ATTENTIVE AT TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE STREETS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN, UH, ADDRESSED OR ADDRESSED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE RESIDENTS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT WORD OF THANKS TO DPW AS WELL AS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE WORKING IN THOSE CONDITIONS AS WELL. YEAH. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UM, WE'LL MOVE TO SCHEDULING ITEMS. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026. THAT'LL BE A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING RIGHT HERE AT SIX 30. NOW ON TO [V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WE HAVE FOUR. THE FIRST WILL BE JANUARY 20TH, 2026. EXECUTIVE SESSION. JANUARY 26TH, 2026, EXECUTIVE SESSION. JANUARY 27TH, 2026, [00:30:01] EXECUTIVE SESSION AND JANUARY 27TH. COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT. MINUTES ARE APPROVED. UH, WE'LL NOW BE MOVING [VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS] TO DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE HAVE ONE THIS EVENING, PUBLIC SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UH, SO AS DISCUSSED EARLIER IN COMMUNICATIONS, THE PLANNING BOARD LAST WEEK APPROVED THE AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION FOR THE PARKVIEW INSTALL CAMP EFS SITES. THOSE ACTIONS AND THE SOON TO BE AMENDED RESOLUTIONS WILL BE VOTED ON TONIGHT, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, ALSO AS DCA FOR APPROVAL. AND THIS ACTION IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CURRENT MARCH 15TH CO DEADLINE TO AVOID THE POTENTIAL FOR A BUILDER'S REMEDY SUIT. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER THE COUNCIL'S, UNDER THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, THE MANAGER AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEGUN REACHING OUT TO THE PRIVATE AND CORPORATELY HELD DEED HOLDERS WHO CURRENTLY HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING AN EXTENSION AND WOULD, AND WHAT THOSE HOLDERS THINK THE VALUE OF THE EXTENSION WOULD COST THE TOWNSHIP THROUGH NEGOTIATION. THESE FIGURES ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO UNDERSTAND AS IT RELATES TO WHAT FUNDING SOURCES WE WOULD PULL FROM IN ORDER TO COVER THE COST. WE HAVE ALSO LOOKED INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF US BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THESE EFFORTS, AND IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SET EXPECTATIONS FOR RESIDENTS BECAUSE OUR UNDERSTANDING, OUR, OUR UNDERSTANDING SURROUNDING TOWNS LIKE MORRISTOWN HAD ONLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN EXTENDING TWO EXISTING DEEDS IN THIS PROCESS. BUT AS COUNCIL, WE VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS EXERCISE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THAT, THE TEAM IS REVIEWING OUR PROJECTIONS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2026 BUDGET AND EXPLORING OUR BONDING CAP CAPABILITIES. AS WE ALL KNOW, THESE EFFORTS AND OTHERS TAKE MONEY AND BUY IN FROM THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS WHY IF THE TIME COMES, WE WILL ENCOURAGE, I WILL ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL TO JOIN TOGETHER TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR A REFERENDUM TO SEEK THE AUTHORITY FROM THE RESIDENTS. IF IT IS THE TOOL, IF IT IS THE TOOL THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE FUNDING OF THE ITEMS. SO, SO THE COST OF THE DEEDS CAN BE COVERED AND THESE ARE AVAILABLE TO US, OR EVEN INCREASING OUR OPEN SPACE FUNDS TO FREE UP ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO CONTINUE LAND PRESERVATION EFFORTS. I'D LIKE, EXCUSE ME. UM, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE THE CORNER OF CHURCH IN HARTFORD ROAD, WHICH WE PRESERVED EARLIER THIS YEAR OR EARLIER LAST YEAR. AS ALWAYS, WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH US ON SOLUTIONS TO MEET OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STATE MANDATE. I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO DEPUTY MAYOR FORHE AND AND COUNCILMAN COX. AND COUNCILMAN COX. SO WE LISTENED. UH, RAY AND I HAVE SPOKEN QUITE A BIT, OR SORRY, COUNCILMAN COX AND I SPOKEN QUITE A BIT, UM, IN REFERENCE TO WHAT YOU GUYS HAD COME UP AND ASKED FOR, AND THAT WAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE. UM, COUNCILMAN COX HAS ACTUALLY COME UP WITH A CHARTER FOR SAID COMMITTEE. UM, DO YOU WANNA GO WITH THAT PART? ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN I'LL START YAPPING AGAIN. ABSOLUTELY. SO, YES. UH, SO BASED ON ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE RESIDENTS, WE PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE CHARTER, UH, FOR A AFFORDABLE HOUSING ROUND FOUR SUBCOMMITTEE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE TO ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF PENDING ROUND FOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ON MEDFORD TOWNSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE SCHOOLS, MUNICIPAL SERVICES, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. THIS, THIS SUBCOMMITTEE SHALL BE TASKED WITH REVIEWING PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT NUMBERS, COMPARE THEM AGAINST THE TOWNSHIP'S KNOWN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS, AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL MEASURES THE TOWNSHIP MAY LEGALLY AND PROACTIVELY EXPLORE FOR LOWER THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REQUIRED HOUSING UNITS WHILE MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS. THE PROJECTED THE DRAFTED MEMBERS OF THIS SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD INCLUDE TWO TOWNSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS, TWO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, THREE MIDFORD TOWNSHIP PRESIDENTS, THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT. THE FORMAL STATEMENT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE READS, AS MEDFORD TOWNSHIP APPROACHES ROUND FOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS, NUMEROUS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN HAD THE POTENTIAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ENROLLMENT, TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS, PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE WILL BE TO EVALUATE THESE IMPACTS COMPREHENSIVELY TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND TO PROVIDE INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL ALSO ASSESS HOW CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTIONS ALIGN WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING THE FEASIBILITY OF MECHANISMS SUCH AS ZONING, ADJUSTMENTS, REDEVELOPMENT PLANNING, PROPERTY ACQUISITION, STRATEGIC DENSITY ALLOCATION, OTHER ACTIONS AS LAID OUT UNDER NEW JERSEY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGULATIONS. [00:35:02] THE MEETING SHALL BE PERIODIC AND SHALL BE CALLED UPON BY THE TOWNSHIP CLERK AT, AT THE, AT A MUNICIPAL FACILITY AT THE COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS REQUESTS. THE DURATION OF THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS DRAFTED TO LAST UP TO SIX MONTHS, BUT MAY BE EXTENDED BY ACTION OF THIS COUNCIL. STAFF INVOLVEMENT WOULD INCLUDE THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER, TOWNSHIP PLANNER, TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, AND SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR, AND OTHER RELEVANT MUNICIPAL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL AS NEEDED ANY RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS OR POLICY CHANGES OR EXPENDITURES BEYOND WHAT IS NORMALLY BUDGETED IN THE TOWNSHIP'S ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE CAPITAL BUDGETING PROCESS OR OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTORY REVIEW REQUIREMENTS BY THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND TOWNSHIP ENGINEER. SO ONE OF THE THINGS RAY AND I TALKED ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD THEN COST THE TOWN, UM, FINANCES. ANY SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DOES INCLUDE ALL THOSE THINGS WILL INCUR COSTS. SO THE QUESTION THAT WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH IS, COULD WE DO THIS WITHOUT THE OVERSIGHT? UM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANNA HEAR BACK FROM YOU. THE OTHER THING THAT OCCURRED TO ME, AND I MENTIONED IT TO COUNCILMAN COX RECENTLY, WAS THAT IS THIS CHARTER THAT HE CREATED FOCUSED HIGHLY ON THE SCHOOLS. AND WHILE SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT THIS LAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH MY FATHER ALSO TOLD ME SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT SENIORS, EMS IS COMING OUT A LOT. UH, I WAS LITERALLY ON A FIRST NAME BASIS WITH SOME OF THOSE LOVELY FOLKS. UM, SO I THINK THAT AS WE DO THIS, WE NEED TO KEEP EMS INVOLVED AS WELL. THE OTHER PIECE THAT I REALIZED LAST NIGHT WAS MISSING WAS THE ECOLOGICAL PIECE. UM, THINGS LIKE THE LAND SURVEYS AND, UM, SOIL SAMPLES AND ALL OF THOSE BITS AND PIECES THAT WE JUST WANNA CHECK AND MAKE SURE ARE, ARE BEING DONE IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE THE RESIDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH US GOING FORWARD. UM, SO MY ONLY PUSHBACK WOULD BE I DON'T WANNA SPEND THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY, UM, BECAUSE I, I WORRY ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COULDN'T GO OUT FOR A SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY, THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN COX. SO, I MEAN, I'M DEFINITELY ALL IN MM-HMM . I JUST, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RIGHT. TRYING TO GET AHEAD. ABSOLUTELY. IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD INVESTMENT, REALLY. NO. WHEN WE'RE SPENDING MONEY TO SAVE MONEY, SOMETHING WE WOULD CONSIDER MAYBE PUTTING A, A CAP OF EXPEND LIKE A $5,000 CAP EXPENDITURE CAP, I WOULD TOTALLY BE IN FOR THAT, IF I MAY. I DON'T MEAN TO. NO. UM, SO, UH, COUNSEL, WHEN MILK AND I WERE ON TWO SUBCOMMITTEES, WHAT WAS IT LAST YEAR? MM-HMM . UM, I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING TRACK. UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD GONE IN OBVIOUSLY, UH, OUR MANAGER AT THE TIME, DANIEL KO WAS, UM, ENCOURAGED US TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT VALID POINTS AND, AND, AND THIS IS WHAT THE PUBLIC IS LOOKING FOR. UM, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT TAUNTON ROAD AND AT THE TIME IT WAS THE VILLAGE AS WELL. SO WE HELD A VERY INFORMAL TOWN HALLS AS JUST KIND OF LIKE A PRIMER TO WHAT, THEN THE CHARTER BECAME THE OUTCOME OF THE TOWN HALLS. AND SO I BELIEVE THERE WAS A TOTAL OF NINE MEETINGS FOR ONE AND 10 FOR ANOTHER. THE FIRST TWO OF EACH WERE TOWN HALLS BEFORE THE CHARTER EVEN EXISTED. SO IT WOULD GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE YOU WOULD, YOU MAY ACTUALLY TRIM THE CHARTER DOWN TO BE MORE SPECIFIC TO WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THAT SPECIFIC TOWN HALL ARE INTERESTED IN. IT COULD BE, IT COULD ENCOMPASS ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT, UM, COMING OUT OF THAT CHARTER, I'M SORRY, COMING OUTTA THOSE TOWN HALLS, YOU MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A VERY DESCRIPTIVE CLEANING CHARTER AND MAYBE BE AHEAD OF THE GAME FOR THE NEXT ROUND ROUND FIVE. ABSOLUTELY. MY OWN, MY ONLY CONCERN, MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THAT, AND THIS, AND THIS MAY NOT BE A CONCERN, UM, WITH A, WITH A TOWN HALL FORMAT, WHICH I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE WITHOUT THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL PENDING LI UH, LITIGATION. AND THAT'S MY, THAT'D BE MY ONLY CONCERN ABOUT NOT HAVING A FORMAL SCOPE OUTLINED. OKAY. RATHER, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? RATHER THAN HAVING IT AS AN OPEN TOWN HALL. YEAH. THAT'D BE MY ONLY HESITATION, UM, AROUND THE, THE AN OPEN MORE OF AN OPEN TOWN HALL. NO, IT'S A GREAT POINT. OPEN LITIGATION IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. YEAH. OKAY. SO AGAIN, JUST JUST TO GO BACK FROM EXPERIENCE, UM, WE, BETHANY MILL MM-HMM . COUNCILWOMAN, UM, IT WAS ALSO PART OF THE PROCESS WAS SELECTING THE MEMBERS, RIGHT? SO WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THIS TOPIC. UM, WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY AT ALL WANT TO LIMIT THE PARTICIPATION, BUT IT DID TURN INTO WHO WAS ON THE ACTUAL SUBCOMMITTEE. SO, UM, WE OPENED THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC, BUT [00:40:01] IT WAS THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WERE PRESENT, I THINK A, A QUO SCENARIO. RIGHT. SO, SO DETERMINING WHO THOSE MEMBERS ARE, I WOULD IMAGINE WOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE TWO COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES. UM, BUT I JUST, I GIVE YOU THAT AS, UM, THAT'S A GREAT PIECE AS ALWAYS FOR CONCERN. YOU HAVE TO FORM MEMBERS OF THIS. AND HOW, HOW WAS THAT SELECTION PROCESS HANDLED FOR WE ALLOWED APPLICANTS TO APPLY? YES. THAT'S VERY INFORMALLY FOR EMAIL. UM, AND IF PEOPLE, I KNOW THERE WAS TIMES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, I WANT TO BE ON THAT. WE DIRECT THEM BACK TO THE CLERK AND THE MANAGER, OKAY, PLEASE JUST SEND A FORMAL EMAIL. UM, THOSE WERE COMPILED AND UM, I BELIEVE IT TOOK A CALL TO, THERE WAS MAYBE 12 THAT APPLIED MM-HMM . AND ONCE PEOPLE KNEW LIKE, OKAY, GENTLEMAN X APPLIED, LET HIM DO IT. OKAY. RIGHT, MA'AM. Y APPLIED, OKAY, SHE'S, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH HER AND THAT KIND OF THING. SO IT KIND OF BECOMES SELF-CONSOLIDATING. UM, BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY GOOD. NOT TO INTERRUPT, BUT JUST TO HAVE A LIMIT. ONLY BECAUSE WHEN IT BECOMES SO BIG, SO BIG AND ALSO DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT EVENING, YOU COULD SAY, WELL, I MIGHT NEED THE SUPERINTENDENT THERE, OR THE, OR THE PLANNER OR WHATEVER VERSUS EVERYBODY BEING AT THAT ONE MEETING. RIGHT. GOTCHA. SO, SO THERE, THERE'S A, THAT THAT GO FORWARD PLAN DID FOR US, CAME OUT OF A TOWN ALL FORMAT IT AGAIN, JUST AS THE PRIMER. I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO, IF WE'RE GONNA GO IN THIS DIRECTION, I WOULD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE A, A FINANCIAL LIMIT. YEAH, A DEFINITELY A TIME LIMIT. AND, UM, YOU'RE TALKING TO ME AGAIN THIS WEEK. . . YEAH. TIME LIMIT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, THEY TEND TO GO OVER AND IT, SO YEAH. DEFINITELY A HARD STOP. KEEP IN MIND EVERYBODY'S DOING OKAY. NO, THOSE ARE GOOD POINTS. IF YOU'RE GOOD, WE'LL JUST KEEP CHATTING AND WE'LL FINE TUNE AND ABSOLUTELY HAVE, THAT'S WE DO WE HAVE COUNCIL'S BLESSING TO PROCEED WITH THIS SUBCOMMITTEE? IF, IF THE TWO OF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, YOU WOULD HAVE MY LAST THING THAT YOU WOULD, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. COULD YOU PUT IT INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, FOUR SENTENCES WHAT THE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING? SURE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU READ A LONG THING, BUT IF YOU WERE TO SUM IT UP AND TELL THE PUBLIC BOOK THE, THE MAIN, I, I WOULD SAY THE MAIN PURPOSE WOULD BE TO EVALUATE THE, WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EVALUATE PROSPECTIVE NUMBERS AND POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS OUR CURRENT OBLIGATION FOR ROUND FOUR. SO WE'RE NOT EXAMINING ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS. NO. THAT, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE YES. OKAY. THAT'S A LOT FOR ONE COMMITTEE. YEAH. THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT GREAT IDEA. OKAY. PROBABLY FOCUS ON A THING AT A TIME, I THINK TO COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN MILK'S POINT WHO WOULD NEED TO BE THERE AT EACH MEETING. YEAH. YEAH. WE GOT SOME FINE TUNING TO DO, BUT THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS. ABSOLUTELY. BUT WITH YOUR BLESSING, WE'LL DEFINITELY GO FORWARD. GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S A GREAT RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. UM, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS DISCUSSION ITEM? WHAT, WHEN, WHEN YOU DID HAVE YOUR FORMAL CHARTER, DID THAT COME BE BACK FOR COUNSEL FOR FORMAL ADOPTION? OR WAS THAT JUST WE, I THINK WE'VE PASSED THROUGH A RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE. OKAY. YEAH. RIGHT. I I THINK YOU JUST LISTED IT ON AS AN AGENDA ITEM AND THEN DID A CONSENSUS. OKAY. I REMEMBER. AND JUST ONE OTHER POINT TO FOLLOW UP. THE MAYOR WAS SAYING THE BENEFIT OF DOING THE TOWN HALL FIRST WAS IT ALLOWED YOU AS THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS TO LISTEN TO WHO'S COMING UP AND KIND OF BE ABLE TO GAUGE TO GAUGE THEM, THEM WHO YOU DO IT NOW. SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE DO APPLY, YOU PUT A NAME AND A FACE TOGETHER. RIGHT. AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MORE CONFIDENCE IN THIS PERSON THAN THAT PERSON. SO THAT, I THINK MAYOR HIT IT RIGHT IN THE HEAD. COUNCILMAN MILK, SAME THING. THAT, THAT'S WHY IT WORKS SO WELL FOR THEM. GREAT. THANK AND, AND THEY, THEY CAN ALSO FROM YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMITMENT YOU EXPECT FROM THEM TO SERVE ONE. YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. THAT IS A BIG ONE. AND, UH, MAYOR, IF I COULD, UM, AS FAR AS THE SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS AFTER THE SUBCOMMITTEE, WHEN YOU WERE GONNA ADD ADDITIONAL PUBLIC MEMBERS, IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD? WELL, IT WAS GONNA BE AS NEEDED. IT WOULD BE, UM, IF WE NEED TO ATTACH A MANAGER OR ATTACH ATTORNEY TO COME TO A MEETING THAT , WERE YOU THEN GONNA SOLICIT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE PART OF THE COMMITTEE? YES. THERE'LL BE THREE, THREE RESIDENTS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. OKAY. BUT THEY'LL BE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL. BY COUNCIL, YES. GOT IT. THANKS. COULD THEY BE APPOINTED BY, BY THE TWO SUBCOMMITTEE? I, I WOULD RECOMMEND IT BE BY THE COUNCIL. UNDERSTOOD. ALRIGHT. OKAY. SO WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, JUST AS WE DID AN INFORMAL EMAIL MM-HMM . TO MANAGER AND CLERK, AND THEN ALL OF COUNSEL WOULD RECEIVE THOSE APPLICANTS. GREAT. OKAY. GREAT WORK GUYS. THANK YOU. UM, SO NOW MY SECOND FAVORITE PART. MY FIRST IS PROCLAMATIONS. THIS IS NOW PUBLIC [VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS] COMMENT. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE GIFT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO ACROSS THIS WORLD. COUNTLESS PEOPLE STILL DREAM OF THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE FREEDOMS THAT SO MANY BRAVE MEN, MEN AND WOMEN, SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES TO DEFEND THESE RIGHTS WE EXPOSE TONIGHT TO SPEAK OPENLY, TO DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY, AND TO BE HEARD BY OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT JUST PRIVILEGES, THEY'RE UNALIENABLE. GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS PAID FOR IN COURAGE AND SACRIFICE. LET US HONOR THIS ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER, WITH CIVILITY, [00:45:01] RESPECT, AND WITH A SHARED COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I WOULD JUST ASK THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. SO UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE GIVEN FIVE MINUTES IN WHICH TO ADDRESS THE CHAIR. UM, I ASK THAT WE ALLOW FOR THE SAME ONE MINUTE EXTENSION IF NEEDED. UM, IF THE, IF THE, I GUESS THE, THE SPEAKER IS BEING PRODUCTIVE. FANTASTIC. FANTASTIC. OKAY. I ASK THAT MR. HORNE WILL KEEP THE TIME AND PROVIDE A ONE MINUTE WARNING. AND I ASK THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO HOLD THEIR COMMENTS TO THE END. IF YOU ARE INTERRUPTED, YOUR TIME WILL BE PAUSED. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ANY PORTION OF YOUR ADDRESS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, PLEASE SPEAK LOUDLY AND CLEARLY. IF ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR, FORGIVE ME. READING RESIDENT COUNTY STATE OF NEW JERSEY. TWO QUESTIONS. HOW I GET ED ME CALENDAR? THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. I'M SORRY. HOW CAN I GET ERFORD CALENDAR FOR THE 2026 CALENDAR? I MEANT FOR CALENDAR. THERE'LL BE ONE AT THE NEXT MEETING IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT BEFORE THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OFFICE AND YOU. RESOLUTION OF 44. 2026. 44, 44. THAT'S NOT TO QUESTION SIR. MAYOR. UM, RESOLUTION 44 26 IS A PROPOSED SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP AND LUMBERTON TOWNSHIP FOR A PORTION OF THE PERSPECTIVE FLYING W UM, REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THE FLYING W CONTEMPLATES HAVING 290 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, A HUNDRED AND LUMBERTON 190, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW IN MEDFORD AND LUMBERTON IS OFFERED TO DO CERTAIN PUBLIC WORK SERVICES FOR US, UM, FOR A VERY REASONABLE CHARGE. AND US IN RETURN. UM, WE WILL BE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR SEWER SYSTEM INTO LUMBERTON TO SERVICE THAT DEVELOPMENT. AND WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A FEW ITEMS AS WELL. TAKE CARE OF PRE HEARING TAN AVENUE AS A GUEST. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MR. WILSON? ZACH WILSON. 51 NORTH MAIN STREET. UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKER, UH, EMPLOYEES WHO WERE OUT THERE TAKING CARE OF US. HOWEVER, AND I'M NOT DISPARAGING THEM, I KNOW THAT THEY WORKED VERY HARD. I THINK THAT THERE WERE SOME, SOME POTENTIAL REVIEW AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS LAST SNOWSTORM THAT COULD REALLY HELP. THERE ARE CURRENTLY ZERO CROSSWALKS CLEARED FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THE CROSSWALK ON MAIN STREET FROM ALLEN AVE ALL THE WAY UP TO FIREHOUSE LANE. YOU CANNOT GET TO A SINGLE CROSSWALK. I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN INJURIES. I'M WATCHING PEOPLE WALK IN THE ROAD. I'M WATCHING PEOPLE FALL OVER ICE. WE ARE 10 DAYS AFTER THE SNOWSTORM NOW. AND I THINK THAT WHILE IT'S, IT'S ADMIRABLE THAT THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE GETTING THINGS DONE, I DO THINK THAT THOSE LAPSES PUT US AT RISK FOR LIABILITY. UM, I AM SURE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST ONE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE, THE TOWN AT THIS POINT. I KNOW SOMEBODY HAS BROKEN THEIR WRIST AND HAS, IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY NEED SURGERY AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET ACROSS A CROSSWALK. UM, NOT A SINGLE CROSSWALK. MY KID HAS TO CROSS OVER SNOW AND ICE MOUNDS TO GET TO THEIR BUS WHEN THE BUS STOPS. UM, YES, THEY WORKED HARD. IT'S AT THAT POINT, IT'S A, IT'S A MATTER OF LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION AS TO WHERE THEY NEED TO FOCUS EFFORTS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT ARE ABLE TO GET AROUND SAFELY, GO FROM CORNER TO CORNER WITHOUT HAVING TO CRAWL OVER. IN SOME CASES, CRAWL OVER THREE TO FOUR FEET OF ICE THAT EXTENDS OUT SIX FEET FROM THE CURB IS NOT A TENABLE SOLUTION. UM, AND WHILE, YES, AGAIN, LAUDING THE WORKERS, I APPRECIATE A LITTLE BIT MORE OVERSIGHT AND DIRECTION ON THE RECORDS. THANK YOU MAYOR. IF I MAY? YES SIR. IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT MAIN STREET, THAT IS A COUNTY ROAD, SO I'LL, I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS TOO. YEAH. YOU KNOW, IF I KNEW ABOUT IT LAST WEEK, I WOULD'VE, WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY RESPONDED, I WOULD'VE, I WAS OUT THERE SHOVELING PEOPLE OUT MYSELF. SO, BUT I, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT. ANYONE ELSE [00:50:01] MOTION TO CLOSE? NO, NO, THERE'S SOMEONE. OH, YOU GOT TWO? THAT WAS A JOKE, KIM. COME ON ON. I GOT TOO EXCITED. . SORRY KIM. SO, WELL, HELLO EVERYONE. UM, KIM P*****K. I RESIDE AT 2 64 CHURCH ROAD, MEDFORD, AND I WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT. THAT WAS MY QUESTION TONIGHT. SO, UH, JUST GREAT TO HEAR THAT THERE'S GONNA BE HELP 'CAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK. UM, IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A COPY OF THE CHARTER? I THOUGHT IT WAS SO WELL WRITTEN AND SO WELL THOUGHT OUT. IT WELL, IT'S IN, IT'S IN DRAFT FORM CURRENTLY. UH, SO I SHARED IT WITH THE COUNCIL MANAGER OF THE SHERIFF COUNCIL. UH, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY, UH, GET THAT OUT AS WELL AS IN DRAFT FORM. IT'S NOT THE, WELL OBVIOUSLY IT WOULDN'T BE THE FINAL VERSION UNTIL WE WANT TO SURE. UH, HAVE THAT ADOPTED. SO OBVIOUSLY I'D LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE ON THE COMMITTEE. UM, KIM, CAN YOU JUST, I CAN'T HEAR YOU THAT WELL TODAY. OH, SURE. IT'S ME TODAY. YEAH, I'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE COMMITTEE. OBVIOUSLY. I'LL, YOU KNOW, SUBMIT AN, AN EMAIL. UM, BUT I WANNA SAY THAT I'VE, YOU KNOW, CONDUCTED A LOT OF RESEARCH OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE. YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER, EVERYTHING FORMED BEFORE THE FIRST MEETING MIGHT WANNA MEET. AND LET ME SHARE EVERYTHING THAT I'VE PUT TOGETHER WITH YOU TO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN FOR YOU, UM, TO, UM, KIND OF ASSIMILATE AND THEN HAVE MAYBE FURTHER DIRECTION ON, UM, THE PROJECT. JUST, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT. I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DESCRIBE IT. UM, BUT THEN THE LAST THING, HOW AM I DOING WITH TIME? YOU'RE FINE. YOU HAVE TO ANSWER. OKAY. UM, THE LAST THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS, I THINK A REALLY BIG FLAW THAT WE'RE OVERLOOKING, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS WHOLE THING OR I KNOW WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED ON ALL THE PARCELS AND IT'S NOT THE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE DEVELOPER AND THE PLANS FOR THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSES THAT IS CONCERNING ME. IT'S THE OVERVIEW OF THE TRAFFIC. AND I DID SPEAK WITH CHRIS NOLL AND HE SAID, I CAN, I CAN INCREASE THE ROADS, I CAN EXPAND THE ROADS, BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE INTERSECTIONS. SO THE QUESTION, THE OVERALL QUESTION TO THIS IS HOW IS THIS GONNA HAPPEN? I UNDERSTAND WE CAN BUILD HOUSES ON ALL THESE PARCELS AND THEY'LL LOOK HOWEVER WE WANT AND SO FORTH, AND WE'LL SATISFY OUR MANDATE. BUT THEN HOW ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE GONNA GET OUT 2000 VEHICLES A DAY ON THREE ROADS? WE'RE TALKING NOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES CAN'T GET OUT IN SALT ROADS. HOW ARE THEY GONNA DO IT WHEN THERE ARE 2000 VEHICLES A DAY AT THE KIRBYS MILL INTERSECTION AND 5 41? HOW ARE, HOW ARE CHILDREN GONNA GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME? SUPPOSE THERE'S A FUNERAL, HOW ARE CARS GONNA GET DOWN THE ROAD? I REALLY THINK THIS TRAFFIC, THE ENGINEERING OF THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE IT'S A MAJOR FLAW THAT IS REALLY, I THINK, GOING TO CRIPPLE THE WHOLE PLAN. 'CAUSE THERE'S JUST NO WAY FOR 2000 CARS TO MOVE. YOU'VE GOT AMAZON DELIVERY TRUCKS, CONTRACTORS, POLICE, FIRE PEOPLE TRYING TO JUST GO VISIT THEIR FRIENDS TRASH TRUCKS. IT'S A TWO-LANE ROAD HOUSE, TRASH TRUCK AND RECYCLABLES EVERY SINGLE WEEK. THE MAIL GIRL, I THINK I'M OUT OF TIME. I MADE MY POINT . UM, SO COPY OF THE CHARTER AND UH, THAT'S IT. NICE TO MEET YOU. YES. MEET YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. JUST, JUST ONE FOLLOW UP COMMENT. THERE WILL BE TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF ENGINEERS LOOKING AT EVERYTHING. IT'LL BE BOTH CHRIS KNOLL AS A TOWNSHIP ENGINEER AND A PLANNING BOARD ENGINEER, BUT IT'LL ALSO BE THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE. 'CAUSE ANYTHING THAT IMPACTS COUNTY ROADWAY HAS TO GO BEFORE THE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD. SO THAT MEANS COUNTY TRAFFIC ENGINEER, THE COUNTY DECIDES TO HIRE A TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER, WHICH IT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE. SO THERE, THERE'LL BE A LOT OF VETTING FOR BOTH FROM THE COUNTY AND OUR OWN PLANNING BOARD, UH, PROFESSIONALS. THANK YOU, SIR. [00:55:01] HELLO? UH, DAVID VIVA, MOUNT ALI. UM, MEDFORD IS A GREAT TOWN. I'VE DRIVEN BY IT. I SHOP IN IT, I FREQUENT IT. I GO TO SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS. I BUY A LOT AT, UH, CW I THINK IT'S CALLED, UM, BEAUTIFUL TOWN. UM, MY CONCERN, AND I'VE SEEN IT IN OTHER TOWNS FROM CALIFORNIA TO CHICAGO TO COLORADO AND SO ON. WHEN YOU HAVE A POPULATION GROWTH AND YOUR BUILDING, UH, HOUSING, UM, I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU MENTIONED HOUSING EARLIER. THESE ARE SEPARATE FROM FLYING W CORRECT. SO HOW MANY UNITS IN TOTAL ARE YOU LOOKING AT? NOT IN, NOT COUNTING FLYING W THERE'S THREE ADDITIONAL PARCELS IN THAT AREA. MM-HMM . THAT WILL TOTAL APPROXIMATELY MR. TAYLOR, I APOLOGIZE. UM, BETWEEN 800, 850. WOW. AND WHAT WOULD THE FLYING WI DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT 1500. THERE'S TWO 90 SINGLE FAMILY AND THEN PROBABLY ANOTHER 80. 80 OR SO. 80 OR SO MULTIFAMILY AROUND. YEAH. SO THREE 70 ROUGHLY. I WAS TOLD A LITTLE MORE SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 800. OKAY. SO WHAT EFFECT IS THAT GONNA HAVE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE? YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MAIN CONCERN WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, AND IT'S JUST GONNA BE OVERWHELMING. AND WHEN YOU DEVELOP AT SUCH A HIGH RATE, SO, SO QUICKLY IT BECOME, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA AFFECT THE OTHER TOWNS. IT'S NOT JUST GONNA AFFECT ME, MEDFORD, IT'S GONNA AFFECT THE OTHER TOWNS AS WELL. UM, WHAT IS IT GONNA DO TO THE TAXES? IS IT GONNA INCREASE IT? BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TO MAYBE BUILD ANOTHER SCHOOL, BUILD BETTER WATER, DISPENSE, SEW AND SO ON AND SO ON, AS THE LADY MENTIONED, WHICH SHE HAD BROUGHT UP GOOD POINTS. SO IS IT GONNA INCREASE THE TAXES? UM, EACH UNIT WILL HAVE ITS OWN RATEABLE, SO THEY'LL BE CONTRIBUTING TAXES TO THE SYSTEM. SO WHAT ABOUT THE EXISTING POPULATION? ARE THESE 16 PROPERTY, ARE THEIR TAXES GONNA GO UP? I, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR YEAH. HOW THIS WILL AFFECT, BUT I, I BELIEVE ALL DEVELOP IN MEDFORD HAS ALWAYS AFFECTED THE EXISTING. THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED. YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN THE TAX BASE IS CERTAINLY GONNA GROW. UM, FLYING W IS GONNA BE ENTIRELY SENIOR, SO THAT'S GONNA BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SCHOOLS WITHOUT SENDING KIDS. AND THEN 30% OF THE THREE ADDITIONAL TRACKS WILL BE SENIOR AS WELL. OKAY. AND THE 20%, UH, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT EVERY TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS. SO IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE 20% AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOU DEVELOP NOW, HOW OFTEN ARE YOU GONNA CONTINUE TO DEVELOP FROM THAT POINT FORWARD? EVERY 10 YEARS? YEAH. WE'RE, IT'S A STATE COURT MANDATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING NUMBER. WE, WE, WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR THIS. IT'S BEEN THRUST UPON US, BUT IT'S EVERY 10 YEARS BASED OFF THE CENSUS, EACH MUNICIPALITY IS GIVEN A FAIR SHARE OF THE NEEDED AFFORDABLE UNITS. OKAY. AND CAN YOU COUNT EXISTING AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR TOWN? THEY WERE COUNTED FOR THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD ROUND. SO YOU HAVE TO APPLY NEW ONES. THIS, THIS IS THE FOURTH ROUND OBLIGATION? YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, I JUST COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TOWN. IT'S A GREAT TOWN. UH, SHOULD BE MORE OF IT AROUND, KEEP IT SMALL, COMFORTABLE. WE'RE COMFORTABLE, FRIENDLY. LOVELY. AND YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO WENDY MORE MEETING. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE MAY HAVE A MOTION? I MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALRIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL. WOW. THAT'S EXCITING. UH, NEXT WE HAVE [VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT] THE MANAGER'S REPORT. MR. HORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE FIVE NEW VOLUNTEER MEMBERS FOR EMS FIRE. WE'RE EXCITED. WE GOTTA FIRE POLICE, POTENTIAL FIRE POLICE MEMBER. AND, UM, OF THE FIVE MEMBERS, THREE OF THEM ARE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. ONE IS A RESIDENT OF MEDFORD LAKES, ONE IS A RESIDENT NEXT DOOR OF MARTON. WE'RE ALSO EXCITED THAT TWO OF THE PROPOSED NEW MEMBERS ALREADY HAVE EMT CERTIFICATIONS. ONE ANOTHER HAS A FIREFIGHTER CERTIFICATION, AND THE ONE WITH THE FIREFIGHTER CERTIFICATION HAPPENS TO BE A HELICOPTER MECHANIC. SO WE'RE REALLY ATTRACTING SOME GOOD VOLUNTEERS AND, AND IT IT'S A TRIBUTE TO, UM, OUR, OUR COMPANY'S LEADERSHIP, OUR DEPARTMENT'S [01:00:01] LEADERSHIP THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE AND, AND VOLUNTEER FOR THIS TOWN. SO I WOULD ASK COUNCIL'S APPROVAL FOR THE FIVE NEW MEMBERS LISTED IN THE MANAGER'S REPORT. YES SIR. SO WE'LL NEED A VOICE VOTE FOR APPROVAL. SO, ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT. CHIEF DOBY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET A HELICOPTER. OKAY. . UM, I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF THE FIVE NEW VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE TONIGHT. OH, OKAY. MAYBE WE'LL SPLIT IT. OKAY. UM, SO I AM NOT SURE IF ANY OF THE FIVE NEW MEMBERS ARE HERE TONIGHT, BUT, UM, ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNCIL AND ALL THE RESIDENTS, WE'D, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, PROTECTING US WHEN WE NEED IT THE MOST. UM, AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE COME HERE, AS THE MANAGER SAID WITH THESE CERTIFICATIONS, THAT NOT ONLY SAVES THE TOWN THE OBLIGATION OF PROVIDING THAT THAT CERTIFICATION, BUT ALLOWS THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO IMMEDIATELY SERVE OUR RESIDENCE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE [IX. CLERK’S REPORT ] CLERK'S REPORT, MS. WICKER. OKAY. SO TONIGHT WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR 50 50 BASKET AND BASKET WRAP FOR LIVE LIKE CASEY ORGANIZATION. UM, FEBRUARY 21 THROUGH 28. UM, AND THAT'S PENDING STATE APPROVAL AND ALSO APPROVAL OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS PERMITS FOR CEDAR RUN SEPTEMBER 26TH, UM, FOR A 5K RUN. AND OCTOBER 17TH FOR A DINNER FUNDRAISER. I COULD GET ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. A. ALRIGHT, THOSE NONE. THE CLERK'S REPORT IS APPROVED. UM, ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE [X. BILL LIST ] BILLS LIST. WE HAVE ONE BILLS LIST THIS EVENING. JANUARY 29TH. 2026. DO ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE BILLS LIST? MM-HMM. NO. MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BILLS LIST. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. BILLS LIST IS APPROVED. WE WILL NOW [XI. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION ] MOVE ON TO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION. WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCES 2026 DASH TWO? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CALENDAR YEAR 2026 SALARY AND WAGE RANGES FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF MEDFORD. UM, TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS THE WAY I'D LIKE TO AND HAVE THE QUESTIONS, UM, ANSWERED BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO ASK THEM. VERY FAIR. I SECOND. SECOND. YES. SECOND. OKAY. SO WE'RE GONNA ALL IN FAVOR OR ROLL CALL FOR TABLE. WE CAN DO ALL, ALL DO ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY. YOU CAN DO ALL IN FAVOR ALL IN IF YOU CHOOSE. OKAY. I. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ALRIGHT. THE ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING IS TABLE. UM, SO WE WILL MOVE ON. COUNCILMAN MILK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2026 DASH FOUR? SURE. I MOVE THAT. COUNCIL. INTRODUCE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH FOUR AMENDING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS SECTION 900 FEES, GUARANTEES, INSPECTIONS, AND OFF TRACK IMPROVEMENTS. THANK YOU. THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRES PROPERTY OWNERS OR DEVELOPERS TO SATISFY OUTSTANDING ESCROW AMOUNTS BEFORE APPLYING FOR ADDITIONAL LAND USE BOARD APPLICATIONS. IT ALSO CLEARS LAYOUTS AND IT ALSO CLEARLY LAYS OUT THE FEE SCHEDULE AND ESCROW AMOUNTS FOR A VARIETY OF LAND USE APPLICATIONS. UM, AS YOU MAY NOTICE DURING OUR I BELIEVE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETINGS, THERE ARE OUTSTANDING ESCROW BALANCES IN WHICH WE ARE LOOKING TO COLLECT FOR OUR PROFESSIONALS. AND THIS GIVES IT A LITTLE BIT OF TEETH. SO, UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ORDINANCE? NO. UM, GIVE ROLL CALL. I NEED A SECOND. OH, I'M SORRY. SECOND. SECOND, SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU TARA. THAT'S OKAY. UM, SO NOW WE CAN ANSWER FOR A ROLL CALL? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. MS. SANOR? YES. MR. COX? YES. MS. MILL. AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR BORHEES AYE. MAYOR CICK AYE. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026. NOW WE'LL MOVE [XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S) ] TO ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING WITH THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2026 DASH ONE? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADAPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH ONE AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE, ARTICLE SEVEN, BUDGET AND FISCAL PROCEDURES SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE CFO TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO UTILITY COMPANIES ON A TIMELY BASIS DURING MONTHS WHERE WE ONLY HAVE ONE REGULAR MEETING TO AVOID SERVICE DISRUPTION AND LATE FEES. INTRODUCTION WAS ON JANUARY 20TH. WE'LL NOW OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE. RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE. YES. NO ONE. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND. [01:05:01] ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. NOW WE WILL ASK FOR A ROLL CALL. MS. SANS MOORE. YES. MR. COX? YES. MS. MILL. AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR BORHES AYE. MAYOR, SUBJECT. AYE. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. OKAY. WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2026 DASH THREE? I MOVE, UH, THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH THREE CALENDAR YEAR 2026 MODEL ORDINANCE TO EXCEED THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION LIMITS AND TO ESTABLISH A CAP BANK. SECOND. OKAY. SECOND FOR MR. COX, COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN COX, EXCUSE ME. THE MUNICIPALITY MADE BY ORDINANCE INCREASED THE COST OF LIVING CAP ADJUSTMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS COLA PERCENTAGE UP TO THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT. UM, OR BANKED THAT FOR UP TO TWO YEARS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ITS FIN FINAL APPROPRIATION SUBJECT TO THE CAP OF 3.5%. CAP BANKING MUST BE DONE BY ORDINANCE, WHICH PERMITS INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS IN BANKING. ANY UNAPPROPRIATED BALANCE CAP BANK BALANCES FROM 2024 AND 2025, THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR USE IN 2026. THIS MEASURE IS NOT ENACT OF THE TOWNSHIP LOSES. THE ABILITY TO BANK INTRODUCTION WAS ON JANUARY 20TH, 2026. WE'LL NOW OPEN THIS ORDINANCE UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING. SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE. SEEING NONE. MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALRIGHT. ANY COUNSEL COMMENTS ON THAT? NONE. OKAY. ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION. MS. SANMAR? YES. MR. COX? YES. MS. MILK? AYE. A MAYOR AYE MAYOR AYE. THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED. OKAY. WE WILL BE MOVING TO CONSENT [XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS] AGENDA RESOLUTIONS. AND, UH, MR. HOEL, IF I MAY YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. IF, UH, IF YOU COULD, WOULD YOU KINDLY TABLE RESOLUTION 50 20 26 AUTHORIZING A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE COUNTY FOR TAUNTON BOULEVARD. UH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION YET BACK FROM THE COUNTY. WHEN WE DO GET IT, WE WOULD LIKE MR. MCGUCKIN TO REVIEW IT AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THAT, UM, BACK IN TIME FOR THE, UH, FEBRUARY 17TH MEETING. SO I JUST ASK THE TABLE IT FOR ONE MEETING. SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. WE JUST, THIS IS, WE'RE JUST, THERE'S A PAPERWORK CORRECT. CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT? YEP. SO JUST FOR THE RESIDENCE OF TAUNTON, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARD, UM, WE ARE WORKING FORWARD TO, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET YOU IN THE LIGHT. YES. BUT YES. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH OBVIOUSLY THE RIGHT CHANNELS HERE. SO NOW WE'RE OMITTING RESOLUTION 50. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION FOR THAT, CORRECT? YOU, YOU COULD TABLE IT, I JUST DON'T READ IT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, PERFECT. ALRIGHT, SO FOR CONSENT AND AGENDA RESOLUTIONS, RESOLUTION 42 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE ASSIGNMENT OF TAX SALE CERTIFICATION 17 DASH 0 0 1 0 0 TO STEVEN GIARDO, GIARDANO GIARDANO, EXCUSE ME, RESOLUTION 43 20 26 TEMP TEMPORARILY EXTENDING THE CONTRACT WITH TRIAD ASSOCIATES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADMINISTRATION AGENT SERVICES RESOLUTION 20, I'M SORRY, RESOLUTION 44. 2026 AUTHORIZING A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF LUMBERTON FOR PUBLIC WORK SERVICES RESOLUTION 48, AMENDING 2026, AMENDING RESOLUTION 19 20 26, ADOPTING A RESTATED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN, INCLUDING ROTH PROVISIONS RESOLUTION 49 20 26, AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT FROM PSE AND G FOUNDATION, RESOLUTION 51 20 26 AMENDING THE 2026 TEMPORARY BUDGET RESOLUTION 52 20 26 APPROVING 2025 APPROPRIATION RESERVE TRANSFERS RESOLUTION 53 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE RETROACTIVE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO COASTLINE FOR THE EMERGENCY WATER REPAIRS CARES. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE RESOLUTIONS? I KNOW THE ONE THAT'S BEEN TABLED ABOUT THE, UH, FLASHING BEACON ON TO IN BOULEVARD. YES. I, I DON'T KNOW IF DAN WAS RESPONSIBLE OR YOU, OR WHAT A WONDERFUL, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS CO TO FINALLY GET IT DONE. I, IT'S AMAZING. AND SO THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. AM I THANKING YOU? UM, YOU GUYS, YEAH. YOU GUYS REALLY, IT'S THE RESIDENTS, BUT YEAH. YOU KNOW THE WORD KUDOS. KUDOS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU ARE WELCOME. UM, YEAH, AND, AND I THINK, UM, SPEAKING OF SUBCOMMITTEES EARLIER, THIS WAS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES PUT FORTH BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE. SO WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK. WE ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WE HEARD WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED IN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, SO YEAH, THESE ARE, THESE ARE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE LOOK FOR WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC. SO, [01:10:01] AND I THINK IT SHOWS THAT THIS COUNCIL LISTENS AND ACTS, SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. MR. SCHIFFER'S NOT HERE TO GIVE YOU I KNOW, HONESTLY . YEAH. I MUST ADJOURNED THE MEETING WHEN I DIDN'T SEE HIM. UM, SO WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED A ROLL CALL MOTION. OH, A MOTION. I APOLOGIZE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THEM. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? A AYE, A ROLL CALL. I'LL DO CALL. OH, ROLL CALL. SURE. WE'LL DO BOTH , MS. TIMORE HERE. OH, YES. MR. CO. YES. MS. MILL. AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR MOHE. AYE. MAYOR. SO, AYE. ALL RIGHT. WE DID IT GUYS. THE CONSENT AGENDA. RESOLUTIONS REQUEST. ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE HAVE THE [XIV. RESOLUTIONS] RESOLUTIONS AND AS STATED DURING COMMUNICATIONS, UM, I WILL ENTERTAIN THE MOTION TO AMEND 45 AND 46 AS WELL AS A MOTION TO TABLE 47. YES, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THOSE MOTIONS HAPPILY. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. UM, BEFORE, BEFORE WE DO THE ROLL CALL, JUST TO BE CLEAR AND UM, I'D ASK YOU TO POTENTIALLY READ IT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER AMENDMENTS, BUT RESOLUTION 45 20 26 DESIGNATING PARK VIEW AT KIRBY MILLS AREA BLOCK 8 0 3 LOT 6.01 AND 6.02 AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT NON COMBINATION. WE ARE TAKING APART THE, OR TAKING AWAY THE DESIGNATION OF THE REDEVELOPER AND WE ARE CONTINUING ON WITH THE AUTHORIZATION AND AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. PERFECT RESOLUTION 46 DASH 2026 DESIGNATING STALL CAMP E-F-S-L-L-C, AREA BLOCK 3 0 2, LOT 28.02 AND 39.03 AS AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT, NON COMBINATION THAT WILL BE REMOVING THE DESIGNATION OF THE REDEVELOPER AND AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR WORK. MM-HMM . ALRIGHT, MAYOR, IF I CAN, UM, FOR RESOLUTION 47, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPOINTING REDEVELOPER IS WITHDRAWN AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED A REDEVELOPMENT AREA MM-HMM . UM, AND I, I DEFER TO COUNSEL OH, BUT AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION, YOU ARE CORRECT MR. TAYLOR OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. YEAH. SO I MAY ASK THAT MS. UH, DEPUTY MAYOR BOIZ, COULD YOU AMEND YOUR TABLE? JUST BECAUSE WE WILL NEED TO STILL AUTHORIZE PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. SO IF YOU, WE CAN ALLOW FOR 47 VOTE, JUST REMOVE A POINTING REDEVELOP SAME, SAME CONCEPT AS 45 AND 46. AND, AND I, I WOULD AGREE. OKAY. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, SO OUR CURRENT STIPULATION RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO NOT NAME A REDEVELOPER FOR ANY OF THE RESOLUTIONS, CORRECT. BUT IT TO MR. TAYLOR'S POINT, UM, WE DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PREPARE THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE PROCEED. SO, MR. TAYLOR, IF YOU COULD JUST ELABORATE ON THIS, ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS ON, ON THIS, ON THE, ON THE SEPARATION OF ASSIGNING A REDEVELOPER, YET STILL HAVING THE AUTHORIZATION TO PREPARE A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. SO MAINLY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, IF MR. HORMAN WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FORWARD, WE HAVE A, A COLOR CODED OUTLINE. THAT WAS FABULOUS, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU. IT, IT HELPS, UH, SORT OF VISUALIZE ALL OF THE STEPS THAT ARE INVOLVED. UM, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A MARCH 15 DEADLINE. I'M SORRY, MR. CAN YOU GO IN THE MICROPHONE JUST TO SEE MY HOME? CAN HEAR. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO WE HAVE A MARCH 15 DEADLINE TO ADOPT ZONING MODIFICATIONS FOR THE THREE SITES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN JUNE AND THEN AMENDED IN DECEMBER. SO PART OF THAT IS THE DESIGNATION STUDY. THE INGER KEY PROPERTY WAS ALREADY DESIGNATED IN 2017 BY ORDINANCE, UH, RESOLUTION 25, I'M SORRY, 95 DASH 2017. SO THAT STEP DOES NOT NEED TO BE TAKEN TONIGHT. UM, BASED ON THE PLANNING BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION, YOU'RE AUTHORIZING OR PASSING A RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BOARD'S, UM, DESIGNATION RECOMMENDATION FOR THOSE OTHER TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN RESOLUTIONS 45 AND 46. WE STILL NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, ON ALL THREE OF THE SITES TO DEVELOP THE DESIGN STANDARDS, THE ZONING STANDARDS, UH, FOR ALL THREE. SO WE CAN MEET THOSE COURT MANDATED, UH, DEADLINES OF, OF MARCH 15. THAT'S THE, THAT WAS THE SHORT VERSION. AS YOU KNOW. I MAY, IF I MAY. YES, OF COURSE. MR. MCGUKIN, I BELIEVE WHEN WE SPOKE YESTERDAY, WE TALKED ABOUT 47 AND YOU THOUGHT IF WE TABLED [01:15:01] IT, THE SLIGHT DELAY WOULD NOT INFRINGE. THE PREPARATION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN DOESN'T, UH, CHANGE ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOU HAVE THE PLAN AND IT'S A LOADED GUN WITH A BULLET IN IT. SO YOU'RE NOT ADOPTING IT, YOU'RE PREPARING IT. AND SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY TODAY WHY WE WOULDN'T DO THAT. UH, AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT NAMING THE REDEVELOPER. SO, UM, PREPARATION OF THE PLAN, DOES IT REQUIRE YOU TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER OTHER THAN HAVE THE PLAN DONE? UH, IN ORDER TO HOPEFULLY MEET ANY DEADLINES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE MR. TAYLOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. SHADOW, DID YOU SAY I, CAN YOU WRITE THAT THE TRIAL KEY PROPERTY WAS DESIGNATED IN AREA IN THE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT BACK IN 2017? YES. AND FORGIVE ME, MR. TAYLOR, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE, THE EDUCATION THERE, BUT I NEED IT IN LIVING MORE SIMPLER TERMS. SO I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT. TELL ME IF I'M RIGHT OR NOT. SO IF WE LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF RESOLUTION 45 AT THIS POINT YES. SO, AND THAT WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT PARKVIEW, AT KIRBY'S MILL, THIS DESIGNATES THE AREA. IT ASSIGNS A REDEVELOPER AND IT AUTHORIZES THE PREPARATION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. IT ORIGINALLY DOES THREE FUNCTIONS, CORRECT? RIGHT. UM, FOR THAT RESOLUTION, WE'RE REMOVING ONE OF THOSE FUNCTIONS. WE'RE REMOVING THE DESIGNATION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT. OH. WE'RE KEEPING THE DESIGNATION OF AREA NEEDED, REDEVELOPMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE PLAN, AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION OF IT. THE PREPARATION OF THE PLANNING. I APOLOGIZE. COPY VOUCHER. THAT, THAT WE WOULD COPY AND PASTE THAT SAME LOGIC ON THE 46, CORRECT? YEP. AND BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR COUNSEL IS WE ARE DOING ITEM NUMBER SEVEN TONIGHT, WHICH IS THE FINAL STEP IN THE REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION PROCESS. AND WE'RE DEFERRING ITEM 13, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL DESIGNATION OF A REDEVELOPER TO A FUTURE TIME. AND THAT REALLY CAN HAPPEN, AS WE INDICATED IN THE PROCESS OUTLINE, WE, WE DISTRIBUTED. THAT CAN HAPPEN AFTER THE MARCH 15 DEADLINE. THERE'S NO DATE FOR THAT. THERE IS ON YOUR CHART. THERE IS NO DATE FOR THAT. UNDERSTOOD. UM, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION YESTERDAY THOUGH, I BELIEVE, AND I HAVE IT IN MY NOTES, AND MAYBE I WROTE IT DOWN WRONG, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE OTHER TWO PLOTS HAD TO GO TO DCA AND THAT'S WHY WE WOULD ONLY AMEND THEM TO REMOVE THE DEVELOPER. THAT'S CORRECT. AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT'S CORRECT. BUT YOU STILL NEED TO, YOU'RE NOT ADOPTING THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. CORRECT. YOU'RE CREATING, DESIGNATING THE PREPARATION. RIGHT. SO IT COULD BE SENT OUT, IT CAN BE SENT OUT, UH, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE IF YOU ADOPT IT. SO THERE'S, THE PLAN WOULD BE TO SEND THESE TO DCA IN THE FIRST CASE, IN THE LAST RESOLUTION. IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AS AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT, UM, UNLIKE THE OTHER TWO. BUT THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAN ALLOWS THE TOWN THE FLEXIBILITY TO APPROVE A PLAN, DENY A PLAN, AND STILL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THAT TO MEET THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE, MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE PLAN. UM, THAT'S WHY THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAN IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE DESIGNATION OF THE DEVELOPER IS NOT. AND YOU CAN ADOPT THE PLAN OR NOT ADOPT THE PLAN BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 15TH. BUT THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAN STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE JUST LIKE THE OTHER TWO. THE FIRST TWO RESOLUTIONS, IT'S NOT THAT I'M AGAINST AMENDING THE RESOLUTION TO TABLE THE RESOLUTION. I'M NOT SURE I GOT THAT RIGHT. I THINK MY FRUSTRATION IS THAT WHEN I SPOKE EARLIER, IT WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE SAID TABLING IT FOR A SHORT TIME WOULD NOT MAKE A FACTOR, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I UNDERSTAND INTO THE TOPIC IT WOULD MAKE IT TIGHT. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT THOUGH, WAS WITH ALL OF THEM, IF WE DON'T ADOPT THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ON THE 17TH, IF YOU DON'T ADOPT IT BEFORE AND GET IT DONE BY MARCH 15TH, WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE AN EXTENSION OF THAT TIME AS WE NEED IT. UH, BUT PREPAR PREPARING PLAN ONLY GIVES YOU MORE PROTECTION. UM, IF YOU NEED TIME TO AMEND IT, IF YOU NEED TIME TO CHANGE IT, IF YOU DENY IT, IF YOU DON'T APPROVE IT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE TIME AND FLEXIBILITY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE STEAD. ON, IN THE MEANTIME, WE DO INTEND TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL EXTENSION OF THAT. UM, BUT SHOWING THAT WE ARE PREPARING THE PLAN GIVES THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA HAVE TO APPROVE THAT REQUEST OR CONSIDER THAT REQUEST FEELING THAT AT LEAST WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS. UM, SO THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAN IS NOT A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF IT AT THIS POINT. APPROVAL OF THE PLAN IS WHAT WE SEEN BE THE CRITICAL COMPONENT AND PREPARING THE PLAN, UH, GIVES YOU MORE TIME, FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THE DEADLINE IF NEEDED. DESIGNATED REDEVELOP CERTAIN. I, I GET FOR, FOR ME, IF I CAN, MR. TAYLOR, I'M TRYING TO GET MY, MY [01:20:01] WRAP MY HEAD AROUND, AROUND TIMING OF THINGS. UM, AND WITH THIS DESIGNATION GOING BACK TO 2017, PRIOR TO ROUND FOUR COMMENCING, I'M TRYING TO TO SEE HOW THIS IS, HOW THIS IS NOW FITTING INTO ROUND FOUR. THE ROUND FOUR OBLIGATION AND WHY NO ACTION WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY. SO DURING THE THIRD ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROCESS, THIS, THE CHALLENGER KEY PROPERTIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS A POSSIBLE BACKUP SITE. OKAY. THAT IF FOR SOME REASON ONE OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES FELL THROUGH THIS PROPERTY WOULD BE DESIGNATED AND WE WOULD BE SLIGHTLY AHEAD IN THE PROCESS IF WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE, UH, PROCESS. A, AS COUNSEL KNOWS THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAFFERTY SITE. MM-HMM . AND THEN THE THIRD SITE SITE, THE, UH, PARKVIEW STALL ALTERNATE SITE HAD TO BE ADDED IN. SO INGER WAS DONE AS A BACKUP SITE. OKAY. BUT BECAUSE REZONING THOSE MORE RURAL LANDS IS REALLY NOT WHAT MEDFORD'S VISION HAS BEEN. THAT WAS HELD IN ABEYANCE UNTIL 2024 AND 2025 WHEN WE HAD A COURT MANDATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION ASSIGNED TO US. I JUST, I HAD, I DO HAVE A COPY OF 47, RESOLUTION 47, AND THIS IS THE, THIS RESOLUTION LAYS OUT AGAIN, AND THERE'S THREE PARTS. IT DOES NOT LIST THE, THE THIRD PART. 'CAUSE THE THIRD PART, IT'S ALREADY BEEN LISTED AS AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT. RIGHT. IN 20, FORGIVE ME. 17. 17. SO, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NONE OF THESE RESOLUTIONS SHOULD HAVE THE DESIGNATION OF REDEVELOPMENT. WE'LL START THERE. HMM. . UM, AND WE NEED TO ASSIGN ALL THREE OF THESE AREAS AND NEED A REDEVELOPMENT, TWO OF WHICH ARE UP FOR TONIGHT. ONE HAS BEEN DONE PREVIOUS TO THIS COUNCIL. AND THE, THE MAIN COMPONENT OF TONIGHT'S ACTION THAT WITH THESE AMENDMENTS WE'D LIKE TO SEE IS ON THE TABLE FOR ADOPTION WOULD BE JUST, DO I HAVE IT RIGHT, AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR ALL THREE SITES? FOR ALL THREE SITES WITH THE FACT THAT IT PROBABLY WILL NOT CHANGE OUR TIMELINE, ALTHOUGH I AM FRUSTRATED AT THE MISCOMMUNICATION, I WOULD BE WILLING TO AMEND THE PUSH TO TABLE RESOLUTION 47 20 26, TO AN AMENDMENT OF ONLY AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. REMOVING THE REDEVELOPER SIGN. REMOVING THE REDEVELOPER. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. OKAY. SO AT THIS POINT, UM, AND I'M SORRY TARA, I'LL, I'LL CLEAR, I'LL MAKE SURE WE GET BACK HERE. SO 45, WE'RE ASKING TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION, REMOVING, DESIGNATING THE REDEVELOPER. SO BASICALLY THE SECOND PARAGRAPH FROM THE END WHERE IT SAYS DR. HORTON, WE'RE JUST GONNA STRIKE THAT PARAGRAPH. OH, I WAS, I WAS LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL TITLE. TITLE . YEAH. UM, I'LL, I'LL TURN TO MR. TAYLOR FOR CLARIFICATION HERE. OR MR. MCGUCKIN, WE'RE LOOKING TO REMOVE ITEM A, MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, CAN I YES, SIR. ASK QUESTION DEPUTY MAYOR'S. AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THERE'S A LOT THAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THREE OF THESE. I, I MEAN, IF POSSIBLE, COULD WE TABLE ALL THREE OR ALL THREE RESOLUTIONS INTO OUR NEXT MEETING SO WE COULD HAVE MORE DISCUSSION EITHER IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR SOME MORE CLARIFICATION FROM PROFESSIONALS ABOUT ALL THREE? SO WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF TABLING IN JUST DISCUSSING WITH MR. TAYLOR? THERE'S A DEADLINE FOR US TO, UH, DECLARE THE ERRORS IN NEED AGREEMENT BALLOT AND TO APPROVE THAT BY RESOLUTION. BUT WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THE S RIGHT. WE'RE JUST TAKING OFF THE DEFENSE. SO, AND IF I CAN, THE, THE AUTHOR, THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, I THINK WAS ADDED IN JUST FOR CLARIFICATION AND DIRECTION THAT AS THE TOWNSHIP PLANNER, THE THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER CAN DIRECT US TO DO THAT. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PART OF THE ESCROW AGREEMENT, UH, THAT IS COVERED. SO I THINK THAT WAS ACTUALLY AN EXTRA STEP THAT WAS PUT INTO THOSE RESOLUTIONS. SO I, I, I DEFER TO MR. CCA, BUT I THINK IF, IF MR. NIKAL WAS FINE GIVING US THAT OFFER AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE PREPARING THOSE PLANS, ABSOLUTELY. UM, 47 [01:25:01] COULD THEN POTENTIALLY BE STRICKEN IN ITS ENTIRETY. AND 45 AND 46 WOULD JUST BE LIMITED TO DESIGNATION. THE DESIGNATION AFFIRMING THE PLANNING BOARD'S FINDING. YES. WHICH, UM, AS MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD TO COUNCIL WOMAN MILK AND MYSELF, UM, THAT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AT THE LAST PLANNING BOARD MEETING. AND THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT STEPS. BUT PROCEDURALLY RESOLUTION 45 AS AMENDED AND RESOLUTION 46 AS AMENDED WOULD BASICALLY BE AFFIRMING WHAT THE PLANNING BOARD HAS ALREADY PASSED. RIGHT. UM, SO, AND WITH THE CONSULTANT COUNSEL, MANAGER PLANNER, UM, IF WE'RE COMFORTABLE AMENDING 45 TO JUST DESIGNATE THE AREA NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS 46 DESIGNATE AN AREA NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT, NOT DESIGNATING A REDEVELOPMENT FOR EITHER, AND IN THEORY, NOT ADDING THE VERBIAGE, AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A RE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN THROUGH RESOLUTION, THAT WILL NOT HINDER THE PROFESSIONAL AND THE STAFF'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE ON THROUGH THE STEPS TO STILL MEET OUR TIMEFRAMES. IS THAT WHAT I, IS THAT HOW I UNDERSTAND IT? AS LONG AS MR. HORNICK AND, AND MR. TAYLOR ARE FINE WITH THAT AND COUNSEL, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. OKAY. I'M GETTING A HEAD NOD AND A DOUBLE THUMBS UP. SO IF, WOULD COUNSEL BE WILLING TO AMEND 45 AND 46 TO JUST DESIGNATING THE TWO PARCELS IN AREAS THAT NEEDED TO REDEVELOPED? YES. SURE. AND WE WILL THEN BE TABLING 47 IN ITS ENTIRETY. UPON READING IT, I AM WILLING TO AMEND AGAIN, COUNCILMAN COX CAN DEFINITELY SPEAK TO IT AS WELL. I AM WILLING TO AMEND MY MOTION TO TABLE. I'M NOT GONNA GET THE WORDS RIGHT. IT'S ALRIGHT. , IF I JUST, UM, JUST ALLOWING IT TO BE AUTHORIZING A PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, BUT NOTHING ELSE. OKAY. SO WE ARE, WE, UM, WOULD COUNCIL BE COMFORTABLE AUTHORIZING THE REDEVELOPMENT CLINICS? WOULD BE THE, I DON'T, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT, BUT WE WOULD NEED A SECOND. AND ANY CONVERSATION THAT THERE OR BEFORE? EXCUSE ME. WAIT. AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF YES. PREPARATION. JUST PREPARATION. OKAY. JUST THE PREPARATION. OKAY. YES. SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND 45, 46 AND 47 FOR AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AS WELL AS DESIGNATING AS DESIGNATING 40, UH, FIVE AND FOUR. FIVE AND 46 ERRORS IN NEED TO REDEVELOPMENT. YES. OKAY. STRIKING THE DESIGNATION OF REDEVELOPER FROM BOTH 45 AND 46 AND 47, UH, N 47. GOOD POINT. YES. NICE CATCH. ALRIGHT, TARA, WE, WE WILL GET THAT FOR YOU, I PROMISE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO WE NEED TO DO THEM INDIVIDUALLY. YOU CAN DO THEM AS A CONSENT TOGETHER. YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR ALL THREE AT ONCE BASED UPON THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU'VE DONE. I WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. ROLL POLL. MS STANDS. MOORE? YES. MR. COX? YES. AS AMENDED. MS. MILL? AYE. DEPUTY MAYOR BORHEES. AYE. MAYOR AYE. ALRIGHT. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE PASSED THROUGH CONSENT WITH THEIR AMENDMENTS. ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. MCGUCKIN DOES. I'M STILL GETTING UP TO SPEED IN IN THE WEEK. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND, . UM, AND, UH, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING I CAN ADVISE YOU, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, I CAN, I WOULD DO MY BEST, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BRING TO CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT. ALRIGHT. IF THAT'S VERY FAIR. I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. UCK, OUR NEW ATTORNEY. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR APPLYING, INTERVIEWING AND ACCEPTING THE ROLE HERE. UM, AND WE KNOW WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HEARD IT WAS THREE HOUR MEETINGS THOUGH. I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. YEAH, I KNOW. THEY'VE BEEN DON'T JINX US. YEAH. UM, SO, UM, SEEING AS THOUGH MR. MCGUCKIN DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS WITH US IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO MR. MCGUCKIN OUTSIDE OF THESE MEETINGS WITH THE ONE-ON-ONE COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE MANAGER AS WELL. UM, SO WITH THAT, WE WILL NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. UM, MY WIFE WILL BE VERY HAPPY THAT I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT EIGHT O'CLOCK. [01:30:01] SECOND . ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ADJOURN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.