[00:00:02]
[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]
ALL RIGHT.I CALLED THE ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, MAY 15TH, 20, I'M SORRY, MAY 5TH, 2026.
THIS MEETING IS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF MAY 5TH, 2026 WAS INCLUDED IN A MEETING NOTICE SENT TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES AN ESSENTIAL RECORD ON JANUARY 7TH, 2026, AND ADVERTISED IN SAID NEWSPAPERS ON JANUARY 11TH, 2026, AND JANUARY 15TH, 2026, RESPECTIVELY.
POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON JANUARY 7TH, 2026, AND HAS, AND HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY BILL WILLIAM SAND 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 WITH THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE FLAGS THAT I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE 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 ORDER.
OKAY, MS. WICKER, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
UM, JUST A MOMENT FOR THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
UH, WE HAVE TWO SWEARING INS THIS EVENING, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE MENTION THAT FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATIONS, UM, I WILL BE CALLING FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, SO IF YOU, UM, ARE HERE FOR THE REGULAR MEETING, THERE'LL BE ABOUT A 20 MINUTE DELAY AFTER THE SWEARING IN, UM, CEREMONY, JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY A HEADS UP
[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
THERE, UM, THIS TIME.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TONIGHT'S SWEARING IN CEREMONY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, TOWNSHIP MANAGER, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR GIVING US, UH, THE TIME THIS EVENING TO HOLD THIS CEREMONY.
AND FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE METFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEIR DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE FORM THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING WE DO.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CIVILIAN STAFF, WHOSE HARD WORK KEEPS THIS ORGANIZATION RUNNING, UH, EFFICIENTLY EVERY DAY.
THEY ARE A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE AGENCY.
TONIGHT'S A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR TWO OFFICERS WHO WILL BE SWORN INTO THEIR PROMOTED POSITIONS.
AS AN AGENCY, WE'VE LONG UPHELD THE TRADITION OF CONDUCTING THESE CEREMONIES PUBLICLY SO THAT FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE COMMUNITY CAN SHARE.
IN CELEBRATING THESE MILESTONES, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BOTH OFFICERS ON THEIR PROMOTIONS.
THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO OUR MISSION AND TO THE SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY.
THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT NOT ONLY THEIR HARD WORK, BUT ALSO THE VALUES THAT DEFINE THIS DEPARTMENT.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO INTRODUCE LIEUTENANT PATRICK ROVY AND HIS FAMILY AND ASK THEM TO STEP FORWARD.
SO, PATRICK GROVEY GREW UP IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER, FATHER, AND TWO SIBLINGS WHERE HE WENT THROUGH MEDFORD TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HE ATTENDED SHONEY HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE PLAYED FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.
UPON GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, PATRICK BEGAN WORK AT THE METFORD POTENTIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A PART-TIME DISPATCHER.
DURING THAT TIME, HE WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY.
AND IN 2004, PATRICK GRADUATED CLASS NUMBER 16 FROM THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY AND BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE METFORD TAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
PATRICK HAS SERVED AS A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, PATROL OFFICER, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, DETECTIVE AND SUPERVISOR, WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PATROL DIVISION, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE BUREAU, AND THE SCHOOL RESOURCE UNIT.
HE WAS ALSO ASSIGNED TO HANDLE THE FOLLOWING DUTIES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT DURING THE COURTS OF HIS CAREER TERMINAL AGENCY COORDINATOR, BIAS CRIMES OFFICER, MEGAN'S LAW LIAISON, INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, FORFEITURE OFFICER, FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, RIFLE INSTRUCTOR, COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT, JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR, AND FBI CRISIS NEGOTIATOR.
IN DECEMBER OF 2025, HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE POSITION OF LIEUTENANT WHERE HE NOW OVERSEES A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU IN THE SCHOOL RESOURCE UNIT.
PATRICK IS ACCOMPANIED TONIGHT BY HIS PARENTS, HIS WIFE LINDSEY.
ROY, AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN, LILLIAN NOLAN AND CALVIN.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, AND I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE AND ALLEGIANCE TO
[00:05:01]
THE SAME.TO THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE, AND IN THIS STATE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE.
I DO FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL IMPARTIALLY, THAT I WILL IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF, PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT, OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE SERGEANT NICOLE FILONE AND HER FAMILY AND NOT SEND A STEP UP THE PODIUM.
NICOLE GREW UP IN COLLINSWOOD, NEW JERSEY, AND IS A GRADUATE GRADUATE OF COLLINSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE WENT ON TO ATTEND CAPE MAY COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY AND BEGAN HER LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER AS A CLASS TWO SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH THE WILDWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IN APRIL OF 2006, NICOLE WAS HIRED BY THE METFORD TOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PATROL DIVISION.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, NICOLE'S BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY FOCUSED INITIATIVES, INCLUDING OPERATION SANTA NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AND THE STRONG PROGRAM.
HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT AND THE RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE HAVE HELPED IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
NICOLE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGENCY'S WELLNESS PROGRAM AS A PROGRAM'S COORDINATOR.
SHE HAS PROVIDED VITAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO HELP PERSONNEL MANAGE STRESS AND NAVIGATE TRAUMA EXPERIENCE, BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY.
HER CREDENTIALS AS A NEW JERSEY CERTIFIED RESILIENCY POLICE OFFICER AND HER SERVICE.
AS THE AGENCY'S LIAISON TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY MULTI-AGENCY POLICE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.
FURTHER HIGHLIGHT HER COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
NICOLE SERVED 14 YEARS AS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, DE DEDICATING HERSELF TO FOSTERING TRUST, MENTORSHIP, AND BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILY AND STAFF.
HER RECOGNIZABLE PRESENCE AND GENUINE ENGAGEMENT HAVE MADE HER A RESPECTED AND TRUSTED PRESENCE IN THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
NICOLE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU WHERE SHE SERVES AS A DETECTIVE FOR THREE YEARS.
DURING THIS TIME, SHE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE INVESTIGATIONS THAT LED TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR BOTH THE VICTIMS OF SERIOUS CRIMES AND THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
NICOLE IS THE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT ACCREDITATION MANAGER, AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS THE AGENCY'S FIFTH REACCREDITATION.
NICOLE HAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND BRINGS HER VALUED LEADERSHIP TO THE PATROL DIVISION.
OVER THE COURSE OF HER CAREER, SHE HAS EARNED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS AND RECOGNITION OF HER DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.
ABOVE ALL, NICOLE IS PROUD OF HER FAMILY WHOSE LOVE AND SUPPORT HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF HER JOURNEY.
TONIGHT, SHE'S PROUDLY ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND GREG, HER DAUGHTER'S KATE AND GRACE, HER FATHER, CHARLIE, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, SERGEANT NER.
OKAY, I, I, NICOLE, ER DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
TO THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THIS STATE AND THIS STATE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE.
I DO FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL IMPARTIALLY, THAT I WILL IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES, PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SERGEANT, OF THE OFFICE OF SERGEANT, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
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IN CLOSING, I WANNA ONCE AGAIN THANK THE MAYOR AND THE MANAGER AND TOWN COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT.I ALSO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO LIEUTENANT ROE AND SERGEANT FIONA, UH, FOR THEIR WELL-DESERVED ACHIEVEMENTS AND MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS.
I ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER.
THE OATH OF OFFICE IS NOT SIMPLY STATED.
IT SHAPES OUR MISSION, GUIDES OUR SERVICE, AND ANCHORS THE STRENGTH OF THE AGENCY.
THAT STRENGTH IS SHAPED BY THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO STAND BEHIND US, WHO CONSTANT SUPPORT AND SACRIFICE, THEY DESERVE OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
OKAY.UM, AT THIS TIME, AS MENTIONED, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE, SO TO DISCUSS LITIGATION AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, LITIGATION CONTRACT.
A, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA EXECUTIVE, I AGAIN WANT TO THANK ALL THE POLICE AND, UH, CHIEF DUNLEY FOR THE CEREMONY.
UM, WE'LL SEE YOU IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
AT THIS TIME, I'M RECONVENING THE OPEN PORTION OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.
UH, WE DISCUSSED THE MATTERS RELATED TO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, TO, WE DISCUSSED MATTERS INVOLVING ACTIVE LITIGATION AS WELL AS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, AM I DOING THIS RIGHT,
DID YOU WANT TO, UM, INVOLVE THE RESOLUTIONS REMOVING THEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME? YES.
SO, AT THIS TIME, WE'VE JUST ASKED, UM, JUST FOR A POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR, THAT ITEMS NUMBER EIGHT, RESOLUTIONS 1 0 1 DASH 26, RESOLUTION 1 0 2 DASH 26, RESOLUTION 1 0 3 DASH 26 AND RESOLUTION 1 0 4 DASH 26 BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE ADDRESSED AS INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS.
WHAT HE SAID? I'LL SECOND THAT.
UM, WE NEED A ROLL CALL ON THAT.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
SO THOSE WILL JUST BE MOVED OUT OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, AND, UH, SO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AGENDA.
[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
ANY COMMUNICATIONS BY COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? NO.UM, SCHEDULING ITEMS IN ADDITION TO THE MAY 19TH TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING HERE AT 7:00 PM WE ARE ADDING A SPECIAL MEETING ON MAY 12TH.
THAT'S NEXT TUESDAY AT SIX 30 HERE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MINUTES.COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND APRIL 14TH, 2026.
UH, THERE'S NO LISTED DISCUSSION ITEMS, BUT
[VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS]
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE, UM, ADD A TOPIC FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SIR.MEMBERS, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF PUBLIC.
SO TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA, THERE ARE A, THERE IS AN ORDINANCE AS WELL AS FIVE SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS.
SO EVERY TOWN IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, ARE REQUIRED TO ADOPT CERTAIN IMPLEMENTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE EACH TOWNSHIP'S FOURTH ROUND, FOURTH ROUND, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION.
NOW, THE TOWNSHIP HAS PURSUED WHAT'S KNOWN AS A REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE.
WITH OUR FOURTH ROUND, WE'VE ADOPTED A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND WE'VE PROCEEDED ACCORDINGLY THE COURT ON MARCH 13TH.
SO TECH TECHNICALLY UNDER THE STATE REGULATIONS, STATE STATUTES COVERING THIS, THE ENTIRE REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND HOW WE INTENDED TO COMPLY WITH OUR FOURTH ROUND WAS REQUIRED TO BE ADOPTED BY MARCH 15TH.
AND THAT WAS REQUIRED ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
EVERY SINGLE MUNICIPALITY WAS REQUIRED TO DO IT.
THIS MUNICIPALITY REQUESTED AN EXTENSION FROM THE COURT UNTIL WE'VE ASKED FOR MAY 22ND.
THE COURT ON MARCH 13TH GAVE US A 60 DAY EXTENSION UNTIL MAY 13TH TO ADOPT ALL OF OUR ENABLING ORDINANCES AND ALL
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OF OUR ENABLING RESOLUTIONS TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE THAT WE ARE UTILIZING THIS REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO SATISFY OUR FOURTH ROUND OBLIGATION.THE FIRST INITIAL ORDINANCE THAT'S GONNA BE INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING THAT IS THE MODEL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE THAT WAS, UM, PREPARED BY THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT THAT EVERY MUNICIPALITY ACROSS THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT.
IT JUST ESSENTIALLY CODIFIES AND MAKES CLEAR A UNIFORM AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING PROCEDURE, UNIFORM, UM, DEVELOPMENT FEE, A UNIFORM PROCEDURE FOR HOW AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE TO BE COUNTED, WHAT UNITS ARE TO BE AFFORDABLE, HOW THEY'RE TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
JUST ALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF EACH AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A PART OF THE ENABLING, UM, STATUTE WHERE THE, THE LEGISLATURE SAID DCA GO MAKE THIS ORDINANCE AND THEN EVERY OR EVERY TOWN IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT IT.
SO THAT'S THE INITIAL ORDINANCE.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE IT ADOPTED BY THE, OUR COMPLIANCE DEADLINE, WHICH IS MAY 14TH.
SO THIS IS WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED.
THE NEXT OR NEXT RESOLUTION IS THE TOWNSHIP'S HOUSINGS, UM, ADOPTING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPENDING PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWNSHIP'S FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION.
NOW THAT IS RESOLUTION 100 DASH 2 20 26.
NOW, THE SPENDING PLAN IS ESSENTIALLY THE TOWNSHIP'S GAME PLAN, THEIR ROADMAP OF HOW THEY'RE GONNA GATHER AFFORDABLE FUNDS AND HOW WE INTEND TO SPEND IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE CO REGULATIONS, WHICH, UM, MR. NOR, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE ARE PURSUING A REHABILITATION PROCESS WITH OUR, WITH OUR FUNDS.
SO WE'RE, OUR GOAL IS TO USE THE AFFORDABLE FUNDS THAT ARE RECEIVED TO REHABILITATE EXISTING AFFORDABLE STRUCTURES SO THAT THEY CAN REMAIN AFFORDABLE.
NOW, THE REMAINING FOUR ORDINANCES UNDER TONIGHT'S FOR CONSIDERATION ARE CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING THE, OH, I'M SORRY TO STOP YOU RESOLUTION, WAS THERE A SECOND MATTER IN RESOLUTION 100 THAT FROM OUR SPENDING PLAN IT WAS THE DEEDS.
SO YOU CAN ALWAYS, THE TOWNSHIP IS ALWAYS ABLE TO USE DEEDS OKAY.
DEED EXTENSIONS TO UTILIZE US TO OBTAIN CREDITS TOWARDS THE FIFTH ROUND.
SO THIS SPENDING PLAN DOESN'T AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
IT IS JUST THE COMPLIANT PLAN WITH THE APPLICABLE STATE REGULATIONS SO THAT WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO THE STATE, DEMONSTRATE THE FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER, DEMONSTRATE TO THE COURT THAT WE HAVE A STATE COMPLIANT, REGULATORY COMPLIANT PLAN OF, WE ARE GOING TO GET AFFORDABLE FUNDS AND WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM FOR AFFORDABLE PURPOSES.
WE'RE NOT GONNA USE IT TO OFFSET THE BUDGET AND HELP PAY FOR A NEW POLICE CRUISER.
UM, THEN THERE ARE, THE PLAN CAN BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE DE RESTRICTIONS.
SO THE REMAINING FOUR RESOLUTIONS ARE RESOLUTIONS 1 0 1 DASH 20 26, 1 0 2 DASH 20 26, 1 0 3 DASH 2026, AND 1 0 4 DASH 2026.
NOW, THESE FOUR RESOLUTIONS ARE YOUR ENABLING RESOLUTIONS THAT THE COURT IS REQUIRING THE TOWNSHIP TO ADOPT BY OUR COMPLIANCE DEADLINE, DEMONSTRATING THAT WE ARE CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING A DEVELOPER FOR THESE AFFORDABLE LOTS.
NOW, THESE FOUR AFFORDABLE LOTS, WE COMMONLY REFER TO THEM THE FIRST AS FLYING W SECOND AS KIRBY'S AS KIRBY'S MILL, THE THIRD ASTROLOGER, AND THE FOURTH AS RICK'S AUTO BODY.
THESE FOUR LOTS ARE A PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT WE'VE HAD HEARINGS ON.
UH, EXCEPT FOR FLYING W WHICH WAS A PART OF THE THIRD ROUND.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO ADOPT THIS.
IT HAS TO BE ADOPTED, IT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT.
IT IS A PART OF OUR COMPLIANCE SUBMISSION.
WITH RESPECT TO FLYING W YOU MAY BE SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD SAYING, WELL, WHY DO WE HAVE TO ADOPT THIS IF THIS IS A PART OF OUR THIRD ROUND? WELL, WE HAD AN UNMET NEED IN OUR THIRD ROUND BECAUSE INVOLVING SENIOR RESIDENCES.
SO AS A PART OF OUR COMPLIANCE FOR THE FOURTH ROUND, WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH OUR THIRD ROUND OBLIGATION DESIGNATING A DEVELOPER TO, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE OUR UNMET NEED FROM OUR THIRD ROUND.
AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS DOING.
BUT I NEED TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS ONLY A CONDITIONAL DESIGNATION.
DR. HORTON HAS PROVIDED REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.
WE ARE REVIEWING THEM, WE ARE NEGOTIATING THEM.
THEY ONLY BECOME THE FULLY DESIGNATED A STATUTORY REDEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY UPON THE EXECUTION OF THAT REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET.
SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY GETTING THE TOWNSHIP THROUGH COMPLIANCE ONTO FIRST BASE, SHOWING THE COURT SHOWING FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER, SHOWING THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION.
THERE'S NO WIGGLE ROOM, THERE'S NO FIGHTING BACK.
THE LINE IN THE SAND HAS BEEN DRAWN AND IT'S THE COMPLIANCE DEADLINE DEADLINE OF MAY 14TH.
IF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
BUT THIS IS THE COURT'S ORDER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE PUBLIC KNOWS CO WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR AND WHAT IS IT? COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO THE COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE STATE,
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I APOLOGIZE THAT I'M TALKING TO MY BACK, BUT IT'S JUST A DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE.SO THE, THE COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, IS ESSENTIALLY THE STATE AGENCY OR STATE STATE ENTITY THAT WOULD CREATE AND PROMULGATE THE REGULATIONS THAT REGULATE HOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PERFORMED AND DONE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNEW MM-HMM
AND USE ACRONYMS SOMETIMES A ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, DCA IS INVOLVED NOW, WHICH IS DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS BASED OFF THE LATEST, UM, BILL THAT WAS ADOPTED BY DOM GOVERNOR MURPHY.
UM, SO THERE ARE STATE AGENCIES THAT DO HAVE OVERVIEW, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND AGAIN, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE, WHICH IS ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 11, IS THE DCA MODEL ORDINANCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? HAPPY TO.
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION, I WILL DO MY BEST TO LIMIT TO FIVE MINUTES.
UM, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ANY PORTION OF YOUR ADDRESS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE STATING.
UM, CHIEF DOY, IF YOU COULD KEEP THE TIME FOR US.
UM, ELSE, FIRST, MA'AM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR TOWN.
I WANNA REITERATE A CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED.
CAN YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE? OH, SORRY.
AND JOANNE, WOULD YOU MOVE THAT MIC DOWN JUST 'CAUSE I, THERE YOU GO.
I WANNA REITERATE A CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED AT THE LAST MEETING I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND.
UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I'M SPEAKING NOT AS A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT, BUT IS SOMEONE WHO VALUES FAIRNESS AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS.
I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS ISSUE FROM THAT SAME PERSPECTIVE.
I'M TROUBLED BY REPORTS OF ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND ICE INVOLVING ARREST AND DETENTIONS WITHOUT CLEAR JUSTIFICATION OR DUE PROCESS.
I AM ALSO TROUBLED BY AN ARTICLE I READ JUST TODAY IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THAT ARTICLE VIA EMAIL.
ESSENTIALLY, IT REPORTS THAT MORE, MORE IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING ARRESTED BY ICE IN NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA, BUT A SMALLER PERCENTAGE HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS.
IN JANUARY OF 20 26, 60 8% OF THOSE THAT WERE ARRESTED IN NEW JERSEY HAD NO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OR CHARGES OF ANY KIND.
MANY DETAINEES ARE THEN HELD IN DETENTION FACILITIES OPERATED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES, THE LARGEST BEING CORE CIVIC, AND THE GEO GROUP.
IN JULY OF 2025, THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ALLOCATED ROUGHLY 75 BILLION TO ICE, INCLUDING ABOUT 45 BILLION FOR NEW DETENTION FACILITIES.
THESE TWO PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT EXPANSION.
IN 2025, CORE CIVIC REPORTED ABOUT 2.2 BILLION IN REVENUES WITH 117 MILLION IN NET INCOME.
WHILE THE GEO GROUP REPORTED ABOUT 2.6 BILLION IN REVENUE AND 254 MILLION IN NET INCOME, THAT'S FROM THEIR ANNUAL REPORTS.
CITIZENS BANK IS LEADING THE FINANCING FOR THESE TWO ENTITIES AS THEY EXPAND ICE DETENTION CAPACITY.
AS A RESULT, CONCERNED CITIZENS ARE APPLYING ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON CITIZENS BANK TO RECONSIDER ITS INVOLVEMENT.
I TRUST THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION SHARE A COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
THEREFORE, I ASK THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW WHETHER THE TOWNSHIP HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH CITIZENS BANK.
IF SO, PLEASE CONSIDER MOVING TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION IF WE DO NOT CURRENTLY USE CITIZENS BANK.
I URGE YOU TO KEEP THIS ISSUE IN MIND WHEN EVALUATING ANY FUTURE BANKING RELATIONSHIPS.
I DID SUBMIT AN OPEN REQUEST YESTERDAY REGARDING THE TOWNSHIP'S BANKING RELATIONSHIPS, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THAT CONCERN AND FOR ALL THE TIME THAT YOU SPEND ON OTHER TOWNSHIP MATTERS.
UM, IF I CAN SWITCH TRAINS AND BRING UP ANOTHER TOPIC.
YOU STILL HAVE TIME JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I JUST WANT TO, WE DO NOT BANK WITH CITIZENS BANK.
WE, WE DID VERIFY THAT AFTER ONE OF THE OTHER OKAY.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ASKED THAT QUESTION AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION DID JUST GIMME THE THUMBS UP THAT WE ARE NOT BANKING WITH THEM.
UM, SO IN THE FUTURE, IF THEY COME KNOCKING AT OUR DOOR, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, I DID WATCH THE LAST MEETING ON, UH, MY COMPUTER, AND THIS IS JUST A REALLY INNOCENT QUESTION.
UM, I DON'T HAVE, I HAVE ALL CORPORATE EXPERIENCE, NOT TOWN,
[00:25:01]
UH, FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE.AND, UM, I, I LISTENED TO THE, THESE COST SHARING ARRANGEMENTS OR, OR SHARED SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS, SHARED SERVICES, PARDON ME? SHARED SERVICES.
AND IT JUST
AND I THOUGHT, LIKE, WHO HAS A JOB THAT'S GETTING PAID FULL TIME IN ANOTHER TOWNSHIP THAT HAS TIME TO SPEND ON ANOTHER JOB? I NEVER HAD THAT LUXURY IN ANY POSITION I EVER HELD.
I WORKED MY 40 HOURS PLUS FOR A FULL-TIME SALARY.
UM, SO I JUST, JUST KIND OF LIKE, SEEMS STRANGE TO ME.
AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT WORKS.
LIKE, IF MR. UMBA HAS A FULL-TIME JOB IN SOUTH HAMPTON, HOW DOES HE HAVE THE TIME TO COME WORK FOR US AND LIKE, HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK? SURE.
UM, SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT MR. DOBY ALSO HAS A FULL-TIME JOB AS THE CHIEF OF FIRE AND EMS. RIGHT.
SO TO GIVE THE SHORT ANSWER IS IF WE GET TWO FULL-TIMERS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, IT, IT'S WORKING RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE HAD A FULL-TIME GENTLEMAN AND WE ASKED HIM TO GO MM-HMM
SO UNTIL WE HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT OUT THE, UNTIL WE'RE IN A GOOD FINANCIAL BASE, AND THEN WE WILL PUT OUT RFPS FOR A TOWN MANAGER.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE STUCK WITH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU LIKE A BUNCH OF PRETTY ANSWERS, BUT THEY'D BE HOGWASH.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE GUY WHO STEPPED UP, UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM, HE WAS VOLUNTOLD THAT HE WOULD BE THE TOWN MANAGER.
UM, BUT SINCE IT WAS SO MUCH SOUTHAMPTON REACHED OUT TO US, ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO OUR MAYOR AND SAID, HEY, WE GOT A GUY WHO'S BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH, HE'S FULL TIME, BUT HE DOESN'T USE ALL THOSE HOURS.
DO YOU WANT THE HELP FOR US? IT WORKED.
AND, AND TO YOUR MAYBE BROADER QUESTION THAT IT'S, IT'S, I DON'T WANNA SAY EXTREMELY COMMON, BUT OUR TAX ASSESSOR, UM, IS SHARED OUT.
OUR CONSTRUCTION OFFICIALS ARE SHARED OUT.
UM, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A COMMON PRACTICE IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TO SHARE SERVICES AND, AND I'M FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME IF I HIRE A DEPARTMENT MANAGER OR EVEN A DEPARTMENT, I FILL UP THEIR, THEIR, THEIR WORKLOAD.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT.
I'M SPECIFICALLY HERE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
I CANNOT MAKE LEGAL DECISIONS ON BEHALF FOR THE TOWN.
MY JOB IS TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
UM, MY, UH, EMPLOYMENT WITH SOUTH HAMPTON IS FOR 35 HOURS.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW I AM NOT WORKING 35 HOURS.
UM, UH, I AM WORKING WELL BEYOND THAT, BUT, UH, MY JOB IS TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO, UM, VARIOUS ITEMS THAT THE TOWN MIGHT HAVE.
I'VE BEEN A TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR, UM, OR A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR OR A TOWN MANAGER.
THOSE ARE THE VARIOUS TERMS. UM, IN IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FOR 12 YEARS NOW.
THE AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP AND SOUTHAMPTON.
AND, UM, AND JUST AS WE WOULD INTERNALLY WITH THE SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT, HOWEVER THEY USE, THEY UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS THAT WE PAY IS ON THEM.
THAT'S NOT OUR OURS TO DECIDE.
SO, SO WE DON'T PAY, WE DON'T, MR DIRECTLY DOES NOT RECEIVE A PAYCHECK FROM BEDFORD.
AND, AND I KNOW THE DEPUTY MAYOR PUT THIS ON THE RECORD, BUT I'LL PUT IT ON THE RECORD AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL INDIVIDUAL.
IF MY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE PASSES A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT, I'M OBLIGATED UNDER MY EMPLOYMENT TERMS WITH SOUTH HAMPTON TO HONOR THAT SHARED SERVICE.
BUT I HAVE NO INTENTION OF COMING HERE FULL TIME.
I HAVE NO INTENTION OF LEAVING SOUTHAMPTON.
I'M A MEDFORD RESIDENT, SO I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE SINCE 2017.
UM, MY WIFE AND I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.
SHE GREW UP IN MANSFIELD AND, AND WANTED TO RAISE HER FAMILY IN MEDFORD.
SO I JUST WANNA HELP, BUT I'M NOT THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF REPORTS OUT THERE CALLING ME THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
I HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY AS THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER FOR THIS TOWN.
I'M HERE TO GIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND HELP, UM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT, UH, YOU CAN DO.
AND I, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT IN MY ROLE IN SOUTH HAMPTON, IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHAT SHARED SERVICES DO.
UM, I THINK LINDSAY TOUCHED UPON IT IN HER, UH, IN HER PRESENTATION TO THE TOWN.
ANYTHING THAT IS DONE BY SHARED SERVICE IS OUTSIDE THE CAP.
SO ANY SPENDING THAT YOU MIGHT DO IS OUTSIDE THE CAP.
WE ARE RESTRICTED UNDER STATE STATUTE, UM, FOR REVENUE, 2.5% APPROPRIATIONS, 3.5%.
UM, AND, UH, IF IT IS A SHARED SERVICE ITEM
[00:30:01]
THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR, YOU ARE RECEIVING THAT OUTSIDE THE CAP THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THAT CAP AMOUNT.UM, SO AS THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT SHARING OTHER EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY, YOU DO THAT IN, IN ORDER TO OFFSET COSTS THAT THEN MOVES THOSE SALARIES OUTSIDE THE CAP.
SOUTH HAMPTON HAS A SHARED SERVICE WITH COURT.
UM, WE ARE A STATE POLICE TOWN.
WE DO NOT HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THAT MEANS THAT THE TOWN ONLY TAKES IN A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, TOWNSHIP ORDINANCES VIOLATIONS THAT THE STATE POLICE MIGHT WRITE.
UM, THE LION SHARE, THAT MONEY GOES TO THE STATE.
UM, SO THE TOWNSHIP DECIDED TO SHARE ITS COURT WITH ANOTHER TOWN, MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP, AND WE PAY THEM TO DO THAT SERVICE.
THAT IS A SERVICE THAT IS NOT WITHIN THE CAP.
SO WHEN THAT GROWS, IT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST WHAT THE TOWNSHIP IS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO RAISE WITHIN THE APPROPRIATIONS CAP.
AND THEN THE REVENUE CAP TO MAKE IT MORE SIMPLE REVENUE IS THE TAXES THAT YOU BRING IN.
APPROPRIATIONS IS THE SPENDING THAT YOU PUT OUT.
DO WE HAVE A TIMEFRAME FOR THE SHARED SERVICE, HOW LONG IT WILL CONTINUE? OR WAS THERE A CONTRACT OR ANYTHING? I, I BELIEVE THE SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT WAS FOR A ONE YEAR TERM, UM, FROM, OH, IT'S FROM THE START.
WITH A, WITH A 30 DAY OUT THAT IS TYPICAL WITH SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET TO A POINT OF THAT YOU CAN ADVERTISE AND, AND DO THAT ROUTE, UM, AND, AND GO THROUGH THAT.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR, I'M A RESIDENT HERE.
AND, UH, I, I'M NOT YOUR TOWNSHIP MANAGER, SO I, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR AND ON THE RECORD.
DO I HAVE ANY TIME LEFT? I HAVE ONE QUICK NOTE.
ARE THERE OTHER BUILDERS THAT, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T APPROVED ANYTHING, BUT YOU'VE MENTIONED THEM AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS, ARE THERE OTHER BUILDERS THAT ARE YOU'LL BE TALKING TO OR IS NO, BECAUSE THE WAY IT WORKS IS UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT LAW, WE CAN ONLY, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT I HAD IT ON.
SO, UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT LAW, WE CAN ONLY DESIGNATE THE BUILDER THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S A CONTRACT PURCHASER OR A LEASE, OR HERE DR HORTON ARE THE, ARE THE CONTRACT PURCHASERS AND OR HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE, IN THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY OR SOME, SOME OTHER LEASEHOLD INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY.
SO UNTIL, UNLESS THERE'S ANOTHER DEVELOPER THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN THOSE LOTS THAT COMES FORWARDS AS A PROPOSED CONCEPT PLAN, THE ANSWER IS NO.
THE ONLY DEVELOPER THAT WE ARE REVIEWING AND DISCUSSING A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH IS DR. HORTON.
HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY ELSE WILL COME FORWARD.
ZACH WILSON, 51 NORTH MAIN STREET.
UM, JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF A COUPLE THINGS THAT, UM, MY NEIGHBOR SAID.
UM, JUST TOUCHING REAL QUICK ON THE, ON THE, THE, THE ICE COORDINATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES, GIVEN THE, THE TONE OF OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE ARE INSTRUCTING THAT WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING IN THERE TO WASTE OUR, OUR POLICE'S RESOURCES AND COST ON FULFILLING FEDERAL OBLIGATIONS.
SO WE ALREADY PAY FEDERAL TAXES FOR THAT.
I HOPE THAT WE'RE NOT USING OUR MUNICIPAL TAXES FOR THAT AS WELL.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON FIRST THE ADMIN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY GENERAL STATEMENTS TODAY KIND OF HAVE TO DO WITH OPENNESS.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SOME, SOME GOOD INFORMATION OUT HERE, UM, TO HELP WITH THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING.
UM, I APPRECIATE MR. OBA'S, UM, JUST CLAR KIND OF CLARIFICATIONS THERE ON WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO, THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES, ALL OF THAT.
UM, IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO POTENTIALLY MAYBE PUBLISH FOR THE PUBLIC, UH, A BIT OF A TABLE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT REMAIN UNDER THE MANAGER AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT MR. UMBLE WOULD BE TAKING OVER.
THAT'S A GREAT, IF ANY OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY WOULD FALL UNDER THE MANAGER OR IF THEY'RE MORE JUST KIND OF GENERAL MUNICIPAL TASKS THAT HE'S PICKING UP.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A ADDITIONAL REMAINING PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF MR. HORNICK, OR IS THAT COMPLETED? SAY THAT AGAIN? THE REMOVAL OF MR. HORNICK, IS THAT COMPLETED OR DO WE STILL NEED ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES? IT'S YOUR HONOR, HONOR.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE ARE ALLOWED TO PUBLISH FOR THE POSITION AND ADVERTISE FOR IT, ADVERTISE FOR THE ROLE, AND ASK FOR, FOR RESUME START THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AS WELL.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION THAT, THAT WAS JUST STATED, THAT WE ARE IN DIFFICULT POSITION FINANCIALLY.
AND SO THE DETERMINATION IS MADE TO USE THE SHARED SERVICES RATHER THAN BACKFILL A MANAGER WHO WOULD BE POTENTIALLY, UM, MORE MONEY THAN WHAT THE SHARED SERVICES WOULD BE.
I WOULD ASK WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SHARED SERVICES PER MONTH VERSUS WHAT
[00:35:01]
WE WOULD, WOULD BE PAYING A TOWNSHIP MANAGER ROUGHLY 42,000 A YEAR.42 OR 48,000 MINUS NOT INCLUDING FRINGE AND PENSION BENEFITS.
SO IT'S 42 PLUS FICA PLUS AND PENSION AND POTENTIAL HEALTHCARE IF THERE'S NO OPT OUT.
SO I'M SORRY IT'S 42 PLUS SOME CHANGE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT OUR, WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING MREL, WHICH SHOULD BE ALREADY PART OF THE BUDGET, BY THE WAY.
UM, BUT WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING MR. HORNICK VERSUS WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING.
SO I MEAN, I, SO THE WAY YOU LOOK AT, UM, SO FOR AN EMPLOYMENT STANDARD, UH, THE TOWN, THERE'S MULTIPLE BUCKETS FOR AN ACTUAL EMPLOYEE.
SO THERE'S THE SALARY PORTION MM-HMM
THEN THERE'S THE FICA, UM, SOCIAL SECURITY PORTION INVEST.
AND THEN WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS YOUR TOTAL COST.
SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN TOTAL COST? YOU'D HAVE TO DELINEATE THE PENSION COST FOR BASED OFF OF THE SALARY THAT WAS, UH, GIVEN TO THE PHYSICIAN.
AND IF, UH, HEALTHCARE WAS GIVEN.
UM, OR IF THERE'S AN OPTOUT, THE STATE DOES THEN ALLOW FOR $5,000 FOR THE OPTOUT, UM, IN A SHARED SERVICE SITUATION.
UM, THAT IS THEN PAID MONTHLY.
UM, IT'S RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RECEIVING, UH, MUNICIPALITY TO COVER THEN THE COST ASSOCIATED TO THE EMPLOYMENT.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TWO SIDES OF THIS EQUATION.
WE HAVE WHAT WE WERE PAYING MR. HORAL, WHICH IS CALLED OUR SID RIGHT.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ADD UP TO A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE YEAR.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE WHAT WE'RE PAYING SOUTHAMPTON FOR YOUR SERVICES, WHICH ADDS UP TO A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT PER YEAR.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL BREAKOUTS, I'M ASKING WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE ACTUAL SAVINGS THAT WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THIS ARRANGEMENT.
IF IT'S 40 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, THAT RATE BAKES OUT ALMOST TO, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THREE AND $4,000 PER MONTH.
I THAT'S A, THAT'S, THAT'S DECENT, BUT I QUESTION THE DECISION TO DO THAT RATHER THAN IMMEDIATELY GET COMPETENT.
UH, NOT, I'M NOT SAYING YOU GUYS ARE INCOMPETENT.
I'M SAYING THAT WE GET A, A FULL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN HERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE BENEFIT A LOT FROM THAT.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE DON'T BURN OUT THE GUY WHO'S IN CHARGE OF COORDINATING OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSES TO LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS.
THAT IS NOT A TENABLE SITUATION.
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TENABLE SITUATION FOR THE PAST 30 DAYS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
NOT ONLY WILL WE BURN HIM OUT AND LOSE HIM, BUT WE CONT WE WILL PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK.
AND THAT IS THE DECISION THAT IS BEING MADE WITH THIS APPROACH TO MANAGING BUDGETS IS $50,000 A YEAR WORTH A PROBLEM BECAUSE HE WAS TOO BURNED OUT TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
AND I'M, I KNOW THAT YOU
WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE COST? WHAT IS THE PRICE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON EVERY INDIVIDUAL'S HEADS IN THIS TOWN BASED ON AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE? YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE WORTH $50,000 AND WHAT PERCENT OF 50,000 IS OF, OF A BUDGET.
I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW.
WHAT IS THE APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE IN OUR SAVINGS TO DO IT THIS WAY VERSUS GOING OUT AND FILE, FINDING A FULL-TIME MANAGER, LETTING YOU GET BACK TO YOUR NORMAL JOB AND YOUR LIFE.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING.
UM, BUT I, I THINK THAT THIS IS A POORLY THOUGHT OUT PLAN AND IT PUTS PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK.
AND I THINK YOU NEED TO REALLY TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW WE DO THIS AND HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET THAT IN THAT REQUEST OUT THERE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
MAYBE WE HAVE TO, IF IT'S A SHARED SERVICES FOR, FOR A YEAR AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO USE THAT, GREAT.
WE'VE GOT A, A TRANSFER PROCESS, SOMEBODY IN PLACE TO SUPPORT A NEW TOWN MANAGER COMING IN.
SO, I, I, REAL QUICK, 'CAUSE YOU ASKED THAT, AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER, UH, IN MY JOB TO GET YOU ANSWERS.
I I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE HERE AS A RESIDENT.
SO, UH, ROUGHLY 40 SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SALARY DIFFERENCE.
UM, A UH, CURRENT PERS RATE FOR THE EMPLOYER, UM, IS TO PAY 17.61% OF THE SALARY OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
THAT WOULD BE $32,094 AND 58 CENTS.
UM, FICA OBVIOUSLY, I BELIEVE IS ROUGHLY 7.5% IS USUALLY THE STANDARD THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT.
THAT WOULD BE $13,669 AND 5 CENTS.
UM, I HAVE NO CLUE IF MR. OL TOOK HEALTHCARE OR NOT TOOK HEALTHCARE, BUT LET'S ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
LET'S SAY HE DIDN'T TAKE THE HEALTHCARE, HE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO A FAMILY PLAN, UM, AND WOULD GET A $5,000, UM, UH, STIPEND FOR NOT TAKING THE HEALTHCARE PLAN.
[00:40:01]
YOU'RE ADDING THE 13, 6, 6, 9, AND 5 CENTS PLUS THE 32 94, 58 PLUS THE 5,000 PLUS, YOU SAID 42,000.42,000 WAS THE, WAS THE DIFFERENCE.
UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT $92,763 AND 63 CENTS IN TOTAL, UM, BASED OFF OF THE SALARY PROVIDED TO AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN COST YES.
BETWEEN WHAT WE WOULD'VE PAID HIM.
AND IS THAT PRORATED FOR WHAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID HIM FOR THIS YEAR? OR IS THAT LOOKING AT A FULL YEAR RUN RATE? UM, I, I WAS JUST DOING ROUND NUMBERS AT THE 180 2.
UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FULL YEAR RUN RATE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ALREADY A QUARTER WEIGHT THROUGH THE YEAR.
SO ACTUALLY I JUST, IT'S ACTUALLY LESS IN RIGHT, RIGHT IN, IN, IN COST THERE.
SO AGAIN, POINT STANDS, I THINK THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION THERE BASED ON, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR LIVES BEING UNDERVALUED.
I'D LIKE YOU TO REVISIT THAT LAST POINT HERE, AND I'M GONNA RECAPTURE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BASED ON THE BACK AND FORTH.
UM, I WOULD LIKE IN THE INTEREST OF, OF OPENNESS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE CR LANGUAGE IS NO LONGER BEING INCLUDED IN THE RED BOOK OR BEING MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE PRIOR TO THESE MEETINGS.
WHEN I COME IN HERE, I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU ARE POTENTIALLY VOTING ON WITH NO DISCUSSION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'VE STOPPED.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE AND IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED.
A LOT OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY AND ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO SEE THESE DOCUMENTS IS A KEY PART OF THAT.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S PART OF THE SUNSHINE LAW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO VERIFY THAT.
AND I DON'T NEED AN ANSWER FOR IT NOW, BUT I'LL CHECK ON IT MYSELF.
WHEN WAS THE CR BROUGHT UP BEFORE? I DON'T RECALL HEARING.
IT'S NOT A CR IT'S RESOLUTION, THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION, NO CONTINUING RESOLUTION IS FEDERAL.
WE ONLY REFER TO OUR RESOLUTIONS AS RESOLUTIONS HERE.
SO I THINK THAT MIGHT BE, THAT WOULD GETTING CONFUSED.
UM, AND I BELIEVE, I'M SORRY, I MEANT CONSENT, NOT CONTINUOUS CONSENT.
CONSENT RE SORRY, CONTINU THAT'S NOT HEARD.
THAT LANGUAGE FOR THOSE FOR THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RED BOOKS AT THE BACK AND AVAILABLE WITH THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN READ THAT LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTAND THEM.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE INFORMATION IN THAT VERBIAGE THAN WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT DURING THESE MEETINGS.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE NOT THERE.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S, IT'S SET BY EACH INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITY BY, IF THEY'RE PUTTING THINGS OUT IN A DRAFT FORM, IT'S LEFT UP TO THE COUNCIL'S, UH, THE GOVERNING BODY'S DECISION.
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN FINAL FORM UNTIL THE END.
BUT IT WOULD BE A, AN ACTION BY COUNCIL, AND I'M SORRY I'M NOT USING THE MICROPHONE.
IT WOULD BE AN ACTION BY COUNSEL, UM, TO SET A POLICY TO ALLOW FOR, UM, DOCUMENTS.
I THINK THE ONLY DOCUMENT, AND, AND AGAIN, MY WIFE'S THE LAWYER IN THE FAMILY.
I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, THE LONELY ADMINISTRATOR.
I BELIEVE THE ONLY DOCUMENT REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW IS FOR THE BILLS LIST TO BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
BUT THE OTHER THING IS A PUBLISHED AGENDA.
SO IT'S A PUBLISHED AGENDA, BUT THE, WHAT, WHAT MR. WILSON IS ASKING FOR IS FOR THE ACTUAL DRAFT RESOLUTIONS.
UM, AND IF, IF THAT IS TO BE DONE, YOU WOULD THEN NEED TO SET A POLICY.
UM, WHEN I ARRIVED IN SOUTH HAMPTON, THEY DID NOT DO IT.
I RECOMMENDED TO THEM, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED.
AND IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT REQUIRES AN ACT OF COUNSEL TO STOP THAT OR CHANGE THAT POLICY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT HAS.
IT HISTORICALLY, WE HAD THE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AVAILABLE BEFORE THE MEETING SO PEOPLE COULD COMMENT ON THEM.
THE PREVIOUS MANAGER DECIDED TO STOP THAT PRACTICE.
THEY WERE AVAILABLE THROUGH MOST OF LAST YEAR.
THEY WERE, AND THEN HE STOPPED THE PRACTICE.
I WOULD REQUEST THE COUNCIL TURN THAT AROUND SO THAT, SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE UP TO THE OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU'VE ALL PROMISED US.
I, I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL IF YOU'RE ESTABLISHING THE POLICY, IT NEEDS TO CLEARLY DELINEATE.
AND WHAT WE DO IN SOUTH HAMPTON IS WE PUT A NICE RED STAMP AT THE TOP CALLED DRAFT.
UM, 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT CORPORATE DOCUMENTS TO BE THEN, UH, MISCONSTRUED WITH DRAFT DOCUMENTS.
UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN A COUNCIL MIGHT CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF A RESOLUTION OR ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON THE, ON THE FLOOR HERE AT A MEETING.
UM, I WOULD JUST SAY IF YOU'RE DOING THAT POLICY, MAKE SURE IT SAYS CLEARLY DRAFT.
UM, ANYONE CAN PRODUCE THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE OR OTHER PEOPLE'S SIGNATURES AND, AND PUT A DOCUMENT ON THERE AND THAT IT'S A FAKE DOCUMENT.
CHIEF DOVEY, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE START SOONER RATHER THAN LATER? YEAH, I'D BE, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
I MEAN, WE COULD SET THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING AS LONG.
LAST, LAST NOTE ON THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, I, I ASKED THIS AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS ON THIS.
UM, WHEN YOU PUBLISH ADDRESSES THAT ARE PART OF LEGISLATION, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD INCLUDE THE ACTUAL STREET ADDRESS ON THESE.
[00:45:01]
ADDITION TO THE BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO GO THROUGH AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT.HAVING TO LOOK UP THE BLOCK, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER THAT'S GOOD ON MAPS AND TAX RECORDS.
THE LAST NOTE, AND I'LL SIT DOWN FOLLOWING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THIS YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SET TO, TO RESPOND TO, BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OPENNESS AROUND THIS, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THE CASE NUMBER, UH, FOR THE EXTENSION REQUEST THAT WE FILE FILED AND THE RESULT IN THE COURT'S DECISION.
BUR DASH L DASH 1 71 DASH 25 DASH 25.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THAT THESE ARE CONDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS OF DR. HORTON AS THE REDEVELOPER, BUT YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT A DEADLINE FOR THE FINAL REDEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVAL AND APOLOGIES THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, WHICH DATES APPLIED TO WHICH.
WHAT IS THE FINAL DEADLINE OR WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE FINAL REDEVELOPMENT PLAN? APPROVAL? THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AFTER DR. HORTON IS CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATED, WE ARE ACTIVELY NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH.
THERE IS NO FIRM DEADLINE AT THIS MOMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DR. HORTON IS NOT CONTI CONTIN CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATED BY THE WHAT DATE DID YOU SAY? MAY, MAY YOU'RE GONNA ASK A QUESTION THAT AT THIS TIME WE CAN'T RESPOND TO BECAUSE WE ARE I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE DEADLINE THAT YOU GAVE IN MARCH? MAY 13TH.
MAY 13TH IS OUR COMPLIANCE DEADLINE.
THEY HAVE ALL ENABLING RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
WE ARE ACTIVELY NEGOTIATING WITH D RHOR TO I TO NAME THEM AS THE DEVELOPER.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS? THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN'T SPEAK ON.
DOESN'T THIS, DOESN'T THAT HAPPEN WITH THESE RESOLUTIONS? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, THIS IS A CONDITIONAL DESIGNATION.
THEY HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO AGREE TO THE AGREEMENT.
ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS AGREED TO, THEN IT, THEY BECOME THE STATUTORY DESIGNATED DEVELOP DEVELOPER.
SO IN EIGHT DAYS WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND DESIGNATE THEM AND APPROVE THAT.
NO, THIS IS THE, WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL OUR ENABLING DOCUMENTS UPLOADED.
THE RESOLUTIONS CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING DR. HORTON.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT HAS TO BE UPLOADED.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH.
I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE, THE MAY 13TH DEADLINE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW, SO FOLLOWING THAT, WE THEN HAVE TIME TO DO ALL OF THE, WE'RE GONNA NEGOTIATIONS AND APPROVALS AND ALL THAT.
WE'RE GONNA NEGOTIATE, WE'RE GONNA, WHAT'S THE APPROVAL DATE? WHAT'S THE DEADLINE AFTER MAY 13TH? IS THERE ANOTHER ONE WHERE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AFTER THAT BY, BESIDES JUST GET 'EM DONE IN 10 YEARS? THE COURT WILL, IN ASSUMING WE SUBMIT OUR COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS AND THE TOWNSHIP COUNSEL ACTS FAVORABLY ON THE RESOLUTIONS, THEN THE JUDGE WILL ISSUE AN ORDER OF REPOSE.
AND IN THAT ORDER OF REPOSE AND THE FINAL ORDER AGREED TO WITH FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL DEADLINES AND DATES SET, INCLUDING A, INCLUDING A MID-YEAR REVIEW, WHICH IS FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORDER SAYING HERE'S WHERE WE ARE, HERE'S HOW WE'RE DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE.
I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'VE TALKED TO REPEATEDLY BEFORE ABOUT HOW ROUND FOUR I UNDERSTAND IS KIND OF IN THE BOOKS AND THIS, THESE ARE ALL JUST FORMALITIES THAT WE'RE CROSSING RIGHT NOW.
I'D LIKE TO FIND, I'D LIKE TO CLOSE OUT WITH MY A QUESTION ON PLAN FIVE.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT THERE IS A PROPOSED SOLUTION WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, A BUILDER WOULD BE ABLE TO DESIGNATE A SITE TO AVOID MARKET RATE BUILDING ENTIRELY AND JUST DEDICATE IT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S ACCURATE, IF YOU CAN SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT ON ROUND FIVE OR SO THE WAY, WHAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE THERE? SO YOU'RE TALKING, SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A WAY TO GET A, AN EXTRA CREDIT FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS.
IF THE MUNICIPALITY IS, IF THE, IF THE BUILDER COMES IN AND DESIGNATES THE PRO AND DEDICATES THE PROPERTY TO THE MUNICIPALITY, THE MUNICIPALITY USES ITS FUNDS OUT OF ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO THEN GO OUT THROUGH THE RFP AND I DESIGNATE A, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER TO COME IN AND CONSTRUCT A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE UNITS.
SO THAT IS A WAY WHERE YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE.
AND I, I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THE TWO TO ONE OR THREE TO ONE CREDIT WORTH WORTHINESS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR, BUT THAT IS AN OPTION.
BUT AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE FUNDS IN YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO PAY THAT DEVELOPER TO CONSTRUCT ALL THE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THE DEVELOPER POTENTIALLY 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ROUND FIVE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
SO QUESTION AGAIN, IS THERE TRUTH TO THE RUMOR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN APPROACHED FROM A BUILDER WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGNATE PROPERTY THAT CAN THEN BE USED FOR THE ROUND FIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS? AM I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY A POTENTIAL THAT COULD BE A CONTRACTUAL NEGOTIATION.
SO IF ANYBODY IS AWARE, WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA ANSWER THE QUESTION 'CAUSE.
THIS HAS BEEN MY, MY NOTES AND COMMENTS ON YOUR OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY.
UH, MR. MAYOR, IF I, IF I MAY.
[00:50:01]
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE, FOR THE TOWN TO KNOW THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE WAS SET BY THE STATE AND AFTER THAT IT'S NOW SET UP FOR COURT ORDER DESIGNATING AND, AND THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO, UM, UNIFORMITY THERE.I'LL USE SOUTH HAMPTON FOR EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE A ORDER THAT GRANTS US TILL THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, AND, AND, AND BASED OFF OF WHAT OUR PLAN IS, UM, ANOTHER TOWN MIGHT HAVE A COURT ORDER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THREE MONTHS FROM NOW.
UM, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER THE FOURTH ROUND, GOVERNOR MURPHY GAVE REASONABLE NUMBERS, UM, TO, UH, MUNICIPALITIES.
YOU THEN HAD TO MEET THOSE REASONABLE NUMBERS AND HE GAVE A DEADLINE.
THE STATE GAVE A DEADLINE OF MARCH 15TH AFTER THAT DATE.
IT'S NOW SUBJECT TO YOUR COMPLIANCES WITH THE COURT.
UM, SO, UH, AS MR. VARGAS STATED ON MAY 13TH WITH A NEW ORDER, IT, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE JUDGE IS LOOKING AT AND, AND HOW HE'S, HOW HE'S DETERMINING THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I THINK MR. WILSON, TO YOUR POINT, THAT THE, THE CONFUSION OF DATES, WE CAN'T REALLY GIVE THAT TO YOU BECAUSE IT, IT COULD BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY MOMENT BASED OFF OF A COURT ORDER.
UM, AND SO IT'S THE, THE FLUIDNESS OF DATES AND WHEN, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK SOME CONFUSION CAN HAPPEN IS BECAUSE YOU MY READ IN THE PAPER, OH, SOUTH HAMPTON HAS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 OR 2026 TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS AS PART OF OUR COMPLIANCE PLAN.
BUT YOU ARE, YOU'RE HEARING, UM, AS PART OF, OF THE COMPLIANCE PLAN THAT MEDFORD HAS, THAT THEY HAD A MAY 13TH, 2020 60.
AGAIN, ALL OF THESE ORDERS ARE GOING TO JUDGE COOK.
HE IS OUR, OUR, UH, ASSIGNMENT JUDGE IN BURLINGTON COUNTY, VISTAGE, AND HE'S ALSO THE MOUNT LAUREL JUDGE FOR, FOR THIS COUNTY.
SO, UM, IT, IT'S SUBJECT TO HIM AND HIS DISCRETION ON HOW THEY, THEY NAME THESE DATES.
SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET UNIFORMITY PAST THE MARCH 15TH DATE, UM, BECAUSE IT WILL BE CASE BY CASE IN, IN EACH TOWN.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT RECORD'S OUT THERE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
COA IS KIND OF AN ANIMAL UNTO ITSELF MM-HMM
UM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT MEDFORD'S, UM, ITEMS MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME AS MANSFIELD AS SOUTH HAMPTON OR AS ANOTHER MISS ONCE WE PASS THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE.
IT'S ALL, IT WAS ALL GOVERNED BY YOUR COURT.
MARY LUCAS, WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU.
MARY LUCAS, 2 0 7 TAUNTON BOULEVARD.
UM, AS OF OUR LAST MEETING, WE FOUND OUT THAT EMPLOYEES HAD RECEIVED A RAISE AND COUNCIL WAS GONNA LOOK INTO HOW THAT TRANSPIRED.
AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS AT THIS POINT THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION, CERTAINLY AS RESIDENTS, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO CEASE THOSE RAISES NOW.
AND CERTAINLY THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS SHOULD CONTINUE AND SO FORTH.
BUT GO BACK TO THEIR SALARY AS OF DECEMBER 31ST BEFORE THE NEW YEAR, AND THEY RECEIVED A RAISE.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THESE FOLKS ARE GONNA BE GETTING CONTINUED FINANCES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, AND US AS TAXPAYERS, WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING MORE TAXES.
AND I THINK COUNCIL HAS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE MUNICIPALITY.
THIS WAS DONE IN SOME ERROR OR WITHOUT COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
UM, UNLESS I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS KNEW ABOUT IT.
UH, BUT EVEN SO, I THINK THERE'S A TIME NOW THAT YOU CAN SORT OF STOP THE BLEEDING, IF YOU WILL, AT LEAST IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, GIVEN OUR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, UM, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BOWMAN AND COMPANY, THE AUDIT FIRM.
AND AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY, COUNCIL, THIS PRESENT COUNCIL WAS NOT PART OF THE PAST EIGHT YEARS OF CUMULATIVE ISSUES.
BUT I THINK IT'S STILL WORTH PURSUING AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE AUDITS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE GLEANED FROM THAT.
THAT HOW IN A, IN, IN, IN A WORLD WHERE YOU HAVE THE AUDIT OVER HERE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE BUDGET OVER HERE AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET, IT WOULD JUST SEEM THAT THERE WOULD BE INDICATORS OVER TIME THAT WERE IN THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL AND NOW EVERYBODY'S HAIR IS ON FIRE BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE ISSUES, FINANCIAL ISSUES, AND IT'S A PROBLEM FOR US AND IT'S PROBLEM FOR THE MUNICIPALITY.
SO I THINK GOING FORWARD, I THINK WHOEVER ON COUNCIL WOULD BE DESIGNATED, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROLES EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE TOWNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT, UH, COLLECTIVELY, I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL AT LEAST TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOWMAN FILES AND SEE WHAT'S, WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
[00:55:02]
E EVEN THE SUMMARY IS A LOAN SHOULD GIVE SOME INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AFTER EIGHT YEARS, YOU WOULD THINK.AND RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER EIGHT YEARS, I WOULD THINK WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF INFLUENCE ON THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
AND SO IN, IN TERMS OF THAT, UM, BACK TO THE SHARED SERVICE ISSUE FOR A MOMENT, I UNDERSTAND THE EXPLANATION.
MY, MY QUESTION IS, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO OUT, YOU KNOW, SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR A FULL-TIME, UH, ADMINISTRATOR OR MANAGER.
WHY ARE WE WAITING? WE KNOW IF DANIEL IS GONE, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE A FULL-TIME PERSON, OUR OWN FULL-TIME PERSON, SOMEONE WHO WILL BE A HUNDRED PERCENT VESTED IN MEDFORD.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT MR. UMBA IS NOT COMMITTED TO HIS, UH, HIS RESPONSIBILITIES HERE.
AND SORT OF HAVING SAID THAT AS WELL, HAVE MR. OBA'S RESPONSIBILITIES BEEN DELINEATED BY COUNSEL? I'M SORRY, SAY THAT.
HAVE MR. OBA'S RESPONSIBILITIES BEEN DELINEATED BY COUNSEL? MR. UMBA IS HERE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO MR. DOY.
AND, AND, AND IN OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, MR. DOY IS THE CEO OF THE TOWN AT THIS MOMENT.
AND HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE STAFF TO HIS WISHES.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT OUR NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN DANIEL STOOD UP HERE, NO ONE REALLY SET OUT RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE SOME KIND OF GUIDELINES.
SO THAT'S ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT ZACH HAD SAID.
LIKE WHO DOES WHAT? I'M SORRY, MICHELLE.
IT'S ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT ZACH WAS ASKING FOR, WHO DOES WHAT I THINK, BUT I THINK YOU WOULD EVEN NOTICE WHEN WE ASKED A QUESTION OF THE TOWN, WE ASKED CHIEF DOY, WE DON'T ASK, UH, MR. UMBA.
IF I DON'T WANNA TAKE AWAY FROM, UM, AND THIS IS, UH, LUCAS'S TIME.
UH, THE, THE MANAGER, UH, UNDER THE FAULKNER ACT, THE, THE MANAGER HAS CLEAR, UH, JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
UM, YOU CAN ALSO FIND THAT IN THE TOWNSHIP'S CODEBOOK UNDER CHAPTER FIVE.
UM, IT DELINEATES WHAT THE COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND THEN WHAT THE MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
UM, ONE, UH, SPECIFIC, UH, SECTION UNDER, UM, AND LET ME PULL IT UP HERE, IS THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER IS FOUNDED UNDER ARTICLE THREE OF CHAPTER FIVE, OR ARTICLE.
ARTICLE THREE OF CHAPTER FIVE.
UM, AND IF YOU GO DOWN, THERE IS GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES UNDER ITEM 13.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THERE'S DELEGATION OF DUTIES, UM, THAT'S LISTED UNDER ITEM 15, UM, WHICH, UH, UH, UH, PUTS OUT WHAT THE MANAGER, UM, IS PERMITTED TO DO AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE TOWN.
I SERVE AT THE PLEASURE MM-HMM
SO MY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO HIM.
UM, IF HE ASSIGNS ME TO, UM, INVESTIGATE, UH, A MATTER, I HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO HIM.
AS I STATED BEFORE, I HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY AS THE MANAGER TO DO ANYTHING IN THIS TOWN.
UM, MY JOB IS TO SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE MANAGER AND BE ASSIGNED WHATEVER TOPIC THAT HE GIVES ME, AND THEN TO REPORT BACK TO HIM TO THEN ENACT.
I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE MANAGER'S EMAIL.
WHEN MR. DOVEY HAS AN EMAIL THAT HE WANTS ME TO REVIEW, HE FORWARDS IT TO MY SOUTHAMPTON EMAIL SO THAT I CAN, UH, REVIEW IT.
UM, MY SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENTS SAYS I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ANY DOCUMENTS FROM MEDFORD.
MY, MY JOB IS TO REVIEW THEM AND PROVIDE, UM, CLARIFICATION AND OR MY EXPERIENCE OR MY REVIEW OF STATUTE, UM, SO THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, DUPLICATING EFFORTS AND, AND KEEPING ON TRACK FOR WHAT WE WOULD DO.
I HAVE NO STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OTHER THAN TO THE MANAGER AND TO TAKE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FROM HIM.
THAT REALLY WASN'T MY QUESTION, THOUGH.
UM, WE ARE, WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DIRECT CHIEF DOVEY OR ANYONE SITTING IN, IN THE MANAGER'S ROLE TO, TO THE JOB IN WHICH THEY CHOOSE TO DO, TO RUN THE TOWN.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BUT THAT, BUT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO.
SO THEN GOING FORWARD THEN, HOW WILL YOU SELECT A NEW TOWNSHIP MANAGER? WHAT WILL BE THE CRITERIA THEN FOR THAT POSITION? WE, WE, WE, WE ASK AND HAVE ASKED, UH, FOR VERY CLEAR COMMUNICATION MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED WITH COUNSEL, BUT ULTIMATELY THE DECISIONS MADE BY
[01:00:01]
THE MANAGER ARE, ARE, OR THAT PERSON'S DECISIONS.WE CAN'T DIRECT THE MANAGER TO MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS.
BUT I'M SAYING WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THE CRITERIA FOR THAT POSITION MM-HMM
IT'LL BE COUNSEL THAT WILL BE DOING THAT.
WE'LL INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATES AS A GROUP.
COUNCIL WOULD PUT DESCRIP, COUNSEL WOULD PUT OUT THE RFP OR THEY WOULD PUT OUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE HIRING PRACTICE JUST LIKE THEY WOULD FOR ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
AND THEN BASED ON WHAT'S IN, IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, UH, FOR THE TOWN OF MEDFORD FOR, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MANAGER, THEY WOULD THEN CITE THAT INTO, INTO THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEW.
AND THEN CLEARLY ONCE THE PERSON IS HIRED, THEN THEY WOULD SET ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES FOR THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF THAT.
AND I KNOW, JUST FILLING IN, IN MY, IN MY ACTING ROLE THE LAST MONTH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS HAS BEEN COMMUNICATION AND, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATING BACK AND FORTH WITH COUNCIL, WITH THE MAYOR, WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE BODY TO KEEP THEM UP TO DATE AS TO EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE TOWN.
BECAUSE JUST LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE, THEY SHOP AT SHOP RATE AND SOMEBODY WILL COME UP AND SAY, HEY, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS? MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, AND, AND I'LL USE THE INSTANCE THIS EVENING.
WE, WE HAD A, WE HAD A, UH, BRUSH FIRE EARLIER TODAY AT THE FARMSTEAD, AND THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.
UM, AS SOON AS THEY CAME IN TONIGHT, I GRABBED THEM AND SAID, HEY, LISTEN, HERE'S A PICTURE.
YES, IT IS STILL VERY DRY OUT THERE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE, WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF RAIN.
BUT THOSE ARE THE EXPECTATIONS THAT COUNSEL HAS PUT ON ME AND MR. UMBA.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD PUT ON THE NEXT MANAGER.
AND THAT'S BEEN, I I THINK EVERY GOVERNING BODY'S DIRECTIVE TO THE PERSON THAT THEY HIRE AS THE MANAGER.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO TELL CHIEF DOBY HOW TO REACT TO THESE CERTAIN THINGS.
WE JUST WANNA KNOW FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT.
I, I WOULD SAY MS. LUCAS DOING THIS JOB FOR 12 YEARS, YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IS CLEARLY SPELLED OUT IN STATE LAW TO, TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF YOU.
YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN READ THESE NINE ITEMS MM-HMM
AND IT IS VERY, VERY CLEAR WHAT YOUR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND, AND HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE AND HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO, UM, UH, WORK.
THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM MANY OTHER FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.
THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, OF WHICH I'M EMPLOYED IN IS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
I AM NOT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE TOWN.
I'M ONLY A, I'M, I ACT AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN BETWEEN MEETINGS BECAUSE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN THAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE FIVE GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS.
SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL LIKEN THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE MANAGER IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
UM, THEIR JOB IS TO PROMULGATE LAWS THAT OUTLINE WHAT THE MANAGER CAN AND CANNOT DO, UM, TO, UH, ADMINISTER THE GOVERNMENT FOR MEDFORD.
UM, AND IF YOU GO THROUGH, I DON'T WANNA BELABOR AND READ ALL NINE ITEMS. UM, THAT'S WHY I SAID WHERE THE, WHERE IT IS IN THE CODEBOOK.
BUT IF, IF YOU READ THAT, YOU WILL CLEARLY KNOW WHAT THE MANAGER'S JOB OR DUTIES ARE.
UM, AND I THINK YOU WOULD THEN UNDERSTAND WHAT MY ROLE IS, IS TO ASSIST IN THOSE.
BUT I HAVE NOT ONE CHARGE TO ENACT ANY ONE OF THOSE NINE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
I I ALWAYS WORKED IN CIVIL SERVICE.
MY, MY OTHER QUESTION HERE IS, UH, DOES FORWARDING EMAIL TO SOUTH HAMPTON EMAIL IMPACT AVAILABILITY FOR OPEN RECORDS COUNSEL? THE ONLY WAY IT MIGHT IS THERE'S THE, I'M SORRY.
THE ONLY WAY IT MIGHT IS THAT, AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S THE SUBJECT OF THE EMAIL.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE INTER OR INTRA-AGENCY ADVISORY CONSULTANT FOR DELIBERATIVE PROCESS MATERIAL, WHICH, IF THERE ARE EMAILS BETWEEN CHIEF AND MR. UMBA ABOUT AN ADMINISTRATIVE TASK THAT THE CHIEF HAS ASSIGNED MR. UMBA IN TO INVESTIGATE SO THAT HE CAN REPORT BACK WITH SOME SORT OF DELIBERATION OR OPINION THAT WOULD NATURALLY BE EXEMPT.
IF IT'S AN EMAIL FROM THE CHIEF TO MR. UMBA SAYING, HEY, WE'RE HAVING A, UM, A FESTIVAL ON MARCH 15TH, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU TO COME.
THAT EMAIL WOULD NATURALLY BE PRODUCED.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THAT EMAIL, GIVEN HIS ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE AND THE CHIEF'S POSITION AS ACTING MANAGER.
IF IT TOUCHES UPON THE OPERATION AND THE DECISION AND THE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS, THEN IT WILL NOT BE PRODUCED.
IF IT TOUCHES UPON ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, BECAUSE IT'S AN EMAIL THAT I HAVE SENT TO THE CHIEF, MR. UMBA COUNSEL, ANYBODY NOT GONNA BE PRODUCED.
BUT THOSE ARE THE MAJOR TWO, IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT FROM A RESIDENT THAT SHOULD BE PRIVILEGED UNDER A PRIVACY EXCEPTION, THAT WILL NOT BE PRODUCED.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN CATEGORIES, BUT IT'S WHETHER OR NOT IT DOES, I CAN THINK OF A HUNDRED EMAILS THAT SHOULD BE PRODUCED AND I CAN THINK OF A THOUSAND EMAILS THAT WILL NEVER BE PRODUCED.
CAN WE GET A FINANCIAL DESCRIPTION OR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF HOW MUCH HAS BEEN
[01:05:01]
OVERPAID TO PEOPLE SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR THAT INVOLVES PERSONNEL? SO, NO, WE CANNOT, PARDON COMMENT.PARDON? WE, WE CANNOT COMMENT ON PERSONNEL AT THIS TIME.
IT INVOLVES AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.
UM, CAN I ADDRESS ONE OF MARY'S YOUR FIRST POINT ABOUT THE AUDIT? YES.
I HAVE A RESOLUTION, I'M NOT GONNA PUT IT OUT TONIGHT, THAT I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE, OF HAVING A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HELP US FINANCIALLY JUST LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
I DON'T MEAN TO DEVELOP THE TOWN, BUT LOOK AT THE MONEY WE SPEND.
SO HOPEFULLY THE AUDIT AND LOOKING AT THE PAST ORDERS WOULD HELP US.
SO I'LL, I'LL PROBABLY INTRODUCE THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO IT IT, THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE MANAGER ASKED ME TO REVIEW THAT.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SANTI MOORE.
I WOULD JUST, UM, AS WE DO THIS, I WOULD SAY IT NEEDS A LEGAL REVIEW YES.
UNDER THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
UNDER THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WHAT I BELIEVE IT ENVISIONS IS WORKING WITH THE CFO COUNSEL ITSELF, AS ELECTED BODY IS NOT PERMITTED TO GO TO THE C FFO UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE.
IF WE'RE CREATING A SUB BOARD THAT'S NOW GONNA BE GOING TO THE CFO AND BYPASSING THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, IT'S IN, IT'S IN, IT'S IN CONFLICT WITH OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT WITH COMMITTEE, NOT A BOARD, NOT A SUB BOARD, IS IT? THE, THE ISSUE IS, IS YOU'RE DEALING WITH PERSONNEL MM-HMM
ALL PERSONNEL MEMBERS OF THIS TOWN.
OUR SUBJECT TO THE MANAGER, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CASUAL CONVERSATION.
HOWEVER, WHEN DIRECTIONS OF TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS OR OR CONCERN ARE, ARE IN ORDER, THAT ALL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SO THE, YOUR REQUEST HAS TO REALLY BE VETTED THROUGH COUNSEL.
'CAUSE I DON'T, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO DO IT.
SO WHAT YOU ARE ASKING IS FOR A SUB-BOARD APPOINTED BY THIS BOARD TO THEN HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE CFO.
YOU DO NOT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE CFO BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ASK THE MANAGER FOR PERMISSION IN ORDER TO GO TO A, A DEPARTMENT HEAD.
SO I, AND YOU DID THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE? THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
'CAUSE WE START, RAY, DIDN'T WE START THAT THIS YEAR? COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE? SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE ANSWERS TO THE MANAGER.
THE MANAGER IS IN CHARGE OF ORGANIZING YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLIANCE.
YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
UH, IT IS THE MANAGER'S STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO INTRODUCE A BUDGET.
IT IS THE CFO'S STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE SAID BUDGET AFTER THE COUNCIL APPROVES IT.
SO, SO WHAT DID WE DO? BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING IN THE RESOLUTION I THE DRAFT ABOUT, ABOUT GOING TO THE CFO.
MY FEAR, COUNCILMAN COX, IS THAT, UM, IN THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, A A AN EMPLOYEE CAN STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO THE MANAGER.
I, I FEEL AS IF I'M BEING PUT IN A BAD SPOT.
I ANSWER TO YOU, YOU ARE MY MANAGER MM-HMM
YOU ANSWER AS MANAGER TO COUNSEL TO THE GOVERNING BODY.
UM, YOU, I JUST CAUTION THE COUNSEL UNDER THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT IF YOU HAVE A BOARD THAT IS THEN GOING TO, UM, OUR, OUR CFO AND THEN SAYING, I WANT, UM, US TO, OR, OR LET'S USE MRS. LUCAS'S EXAMPLE, THE MANAGER GRANTS, GRANTS RAISES, UM, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE BUDGET, YOU NEED A, AN APPROVED ADOPTIVE BUDGET.
WE ARE IN A TEMPORARY BUDGET BASED OFF OF LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.
UM, BUT THE MANAGER HAS THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY AND, UH, ABILITY OUTSIDE OF A CONTRACT THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED AND APPROVED BY COUNSEL TO GIVE RAISES TO, TO EMPLOYEES.
UM, IF YOU WERE TO MAKE HYPOTHETICAL, MRS. LUCAS IS ON OUR NEW SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET.
SHE GOES TO THE CFO AND SAYS, I DON'T LIKE THAT THIS, THESE RAISES HAVE HAPPENED.
I WANT, MY RECOMMENDATION AS A MEMBER OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS FOR YOU TO REMOVE THOSE AND, AND GO BACK.
THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THE FALCON ACT.
BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THOSE PEOPLE WERE GRANTED THE RAISES.
SO THIS IS A DIFFERENT SCENARIO.
WELL, ACTIONS, THAT'S WHY THE QUESTION HAS, HAS COME UP.
IF YOU READ, IF YOU READ THE MANAGER'S DUTIES, YOU ARE A REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.
UM, UH, ACTIONS THAT YOU, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DONE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER A TEMPORARY BUDGET.
THE, THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED, HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
WE ARE IN A TEMPORARY BUDGET OFF OF LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.
SO WE ARE FUNCTIONING ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.
AND THAT'S WHY THE STATE SAYS, AND LINDSAY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT WENT FROM 26.25.
SO, SO THE STATE SAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AT THE REORGANIZATION, THE COUNCIL MAY PASS A BUDGET THAT IS 35% OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND IF THEY EXCEED THE 35%, THEY ARE TO ENACT ANOTHER RESOLUTION, WHICH IS AN EMERGENCY TEMPORARY, UH, BUDGET INCREASE UNTIL THERE'S AN ADOPTED BUDGET.
UM, SO I WOULD CONTEND THAT IT IS NOT COMMON PRACTICE TO SEE
[01:10:01]
NON-CONTRACTUAL RAISES.CONTRACTUAL RAISES ARE ALREADY BEEN DONE.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, YOU HAVE THAT OBLIGATION.
YOU WOULD HAVE AN UNFAIR LABOR CHARGE FROM THAT UNION IF YOU DID NOT GIVE THEM THEIR RAISE.
THAT WAS NEGOTIATED FOR NON NEGOTIATED, UM, EMPLOYEES THAT DO NOT HAVE A CONTRACT.
TYPICALLY TOWNS WAIT UNTIL THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
UM, THAT'S WHY I'M QUESTIONING IT BECAUSE THE, SO A, I, AGAIN, I WOULD REFER TO LEGAL COUNSEL.
ONCE YOU GIVE A RAISE, IT'S VERY HARD TO TAKE IT BACK.
BUT, UH, IT'S 'CAUSE YOU HAVE AN UNFAIR LABOR CHARGE.
BUT THE MANAGER HAS THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY THAT HE CAN GRANT A RAISE.
AND, UH, THOSE RAISES SHOULD NOT, SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNTIL YOU HAVE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THOSE RAISES, UM, BEING GIVEN.
BUT IT WOULDN'T BE AN UNFAIR LABOR CHARGE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO GET IT IN THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
THE MANAGER HAS, HAS THE RIGHT TO, TO DO IT.
IT'S NOT, I WOULD SAY IT'S IMPROPER BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS STILL A TEMPORARY BUDGET AND DOESN'T CONTEMPLATE THE RAISE.
'CAUSE THERE IS NO BUDGET PASSED BY THE GOVERNING BODY WHO IS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY HAS SET THE BUDGET.
AND THAT IS WHY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHERS KNOW WE ARE IN A TEMPORARY BUDGET SITUATION.
'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK COUNSEL, HEY, I NEED AN EMERGENCY TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION TO THE TEMPORARY BUDGET.
BECAUSE THEN THAT'S SHOWING, ALL RIGHT.
UM, THE STATE ALREADY CHANGED THAT LAW.
THAT'S WHY I HAD TO CHECK WITH LINDSAY FROM, I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO, FROM 26.25% OF THE BUDGET PRIOR TO 35% BECAUSE IT'S TAKING TOWN SO LONG TO GET THEIR BUDGET DONE.
AND THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH, WITH BUDGETING AND COUNCILMAN COX BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR BUDGET IN PLACE BEFORE THEIR YEAR STARTS.
WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE OUR BUDGET, UM, IN PLACE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A TEMPORARY BUDGET SOLUTION.
WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS ALSO IS THAT, THAT THESE INCREASES WERE IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO EVEN THE TEMPORARY BUDGET BEING ADOPTED.
BECAUSE COUNCIL DIDN'T REORGANIZE AT THAT POINT.
WE HAD NOT APPROVED A TEMPORARY BUDGET AND YET THESE INCREASES WERE ALREADY IN PLACE AND, AND PUT FORWARD.
WE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING TIMING WISE, BUT, UM, OR AT THAT POINT, WELL, I THINK ANYTHING, ANYTHING HAPPENING, I THINK WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, AS CITIZENS.
AND WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I THINK YOU, YOU CAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY DOCUMENTS FROM, FROM OTHER TOWNS.
UM, MY TOWN, I CAN GIVE THAT EXAMPLE.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO GIVE RAISES TO NON-CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES.
I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
I NEED TO ASK THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES WHO MEET IN A, IN A FORUM, UM, THAT IS, IS UH, OPEN TO THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
SO THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED AT OUR APRIL 21ST MEETING.
THE RAISES WERE THEN ENACTED BY RESOLUTION.
THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE MANAGER ISSUES THE RAISES, UM, UH, THAT ARE NON-CONTRACTUAL.
BUT TO GET BACK TO THE OTHER POINT, UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT DO HAVE COMMITTEES THAT LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE DISTRICT.
I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE TO JUST, YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SEE WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S, I'M JUST CAUTIONING 'CAUSE OF THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT IS VERY, VERY STRICT.
THAT GIVES THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS TO THE MANAGER.
THE MANAGER NEVER LOSES THOSE POWERS.
I HOLD THEM IN TRUST IN A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
'CAUSE THE COMMITTEE CAN'T MEET AS A BODY EXCEPT IN A PUBLICLY ADVERTISED MEETING.
'CAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE BY RESOLUTION IN THAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
ALL I'M GETTING FROM THIS IS THE MANAGER'S JOB IS INCREDIBLE.
IT'S IN THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
IT, IT IS VERY MUCH, THEY HAVE ALL THE POWER.
ONCE WE GRANT THEM THE POWER OF THE MANAGER, THEY'RE IN FULL CONTROL.
I WAS, I WAS GONNA SAY IN IN THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE, WITH THE FAULKNER ACT, IT'S A MANAGER STRONG.
THAT MANAGER HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE OTHER TOWNS WHERE YOU'RE MAYOR'S STRONG.
AND, AND I KNOW PAC COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE YOU AS A COUNCIL, THEY HIRE THE MANAGER AND THEN PUT THAT PERSON IN PLACE.
SO THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT THE OTHER GENTLEMAN WAS SAYING.
YOU'RE DOING ALL THIS PLUS STILL BEING FIRE CHIEF.
AND THERE'S GONNA BE NO FIRES
BUT I, I WILL SAY ONE THING, I I DO HAVE A VERY STRONG STAFF AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAREER VOLUNTEER.
I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY LUCKY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE DID, WE DID MOVE A DEPUTY CHIEF'S POSITION IN THIS YEAR TO ASSIST, YOU KNOW, TO ASSIST ME PRIOR TO ALL OF THIS OCCURRING, YOU KNOW.
UM, SO IT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY LUCKY IN THAT.
I WILL SAY ONE THING ON THE RECORD BEFORE YOU GET TO CHAT, YOU MAY UNDERSTAND THEN WHY WE'RE LOATHED TO LET SOMEBODY WITH THE INTEGRITY OF A CHIEF DOBY GO WITH INTERVIEWING OTHER NEW PEOPLE.
[01:15:01]
WE WILL DO IT.BUT ON UNTIL WE'RE BACK WHERE WE NEED TO BE, I'M GONNA TAKE SOMEBODY WHO'S HONEST, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR GOOD LORD AMOUNT OF YEARS.
I KNOW HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THIS TOWN.
SHE GOT ME THROUGH MY DAYS WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT THE HOSPITAL.
SHE HAS HELPED MY FATHER BEFORE HE PASSED.
LIKE, THIS IS THE MAN I WANT AS THE MANAGER OF OUR, OUR TOWN.
SO WHEN YOU ASK WHY WE'RE NOT RUSHING TO DO IT, IT'S TOUGH TO GIVE UP SOMEBODY LIKE HIM FOR THE UNKNOWN.
BUT HE DID, WE WE DID GIVE HIM THE DEPUTY.
RIGHT NOW HE SAYS HE'S GOOD 'CAUSE MM-HMM
I ASK HIM PRETTY MUCH EVERY, WHAT ELSE DID HE SAY? HE TELL ME.
AS, AS I'VE SAID TO COUNSEL, I WILL CONTINUE TO FULFILL THESE ROLES UNTIL YOU, AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY MAKE THE DECISION TO FILL THIS POSITION IN WHICHEVER METHOD YOU FEEL INTERIM, PERMANENT, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
HOW ARE YOU? COUNSEL? CHIEF TOVEY, MR. RUMBA PATRICK VARGAS.
MR. NOEL AND TARA, HOW ARE YOU? UH, I GOT A QUESTION FOR, UH, MR. VARGA.
UM, I'M STILL A LITTLE CLOUDY ON THE ACTUAL BEING IN COMPLIANCE TIMEFRAME WITH A CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATED DEVELOPER FOR THOSE FOUR OR FIVE RESOLUTIONS.
AND THE REASON WHY I'M A LITTLE CLOUDY IS, IS WHETHER SOMETHING HAPPENS TONIGHT OR DOESN'T HAPPEN TONIGHT, DOES IT HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD A SECOND TIME TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? THE, UM, AM I ON? HELLO? SO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE AFTER WE FINALIZE NEGOTIATING THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF SAID REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND UPON ITS EXECUTION, THEY BECOME THE STATUTORY DESIGNATED REDEVELOPER AUTOMATICALLY.
SO THIS IS THE CONDITIONAL DESIGNATION WITH THE CONDITION SUBSEQUENT OF EXECUTING THE REDEVELOPER AGREEMENT.
AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE, THE RESOLUTION HAS TO BE DONE BY MAY 14TH.
SO IN THE HIGHLY LIKELY EVENT, IF THE TOWNSHIP AND THE DESIGNEE DON'T COME TO TERMS, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE? WELL, AS OF RIGHT NOW, ASSUME THE COUNCIL ACTS AND THEY ADOPT THE APPROPRIATE RESOLUTIONS.
AND YES, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE, BUT IF THEY DON'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH REGARDS TO REDEVELOPER AGREEMENT, ARE THEY STILL IN COMPLIANCE? MY ANSWER IS GONNA BE YES.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN COMPLIANCE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY COMPLYING WITH THE COURT ORDER, AND WE WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COURT'S DEADLINE.
HOW ARE YOU SIR? NICE TO MEET YOU.
LAST MEETING, I NEVER MET YOU BEFORE IN MY LIFE.
IS SOUTH HAMPTON IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR FAIR SHARE PLAN? UM, OUR THIRD ROUND, OR SORRY, FOURTH ROUND, UH, OBLIGATION IS, UM, WE ARE, UH, PRESENTING A, UH, 100% AFFORDABLE UNIT AT A PIECE OF PROPERTY DOWNTOWN AT ALLEN'S.
UH, WELL, NOT, IT'S NOT ALLEN'S, IT'S NEXT DOOR.
IT'S, IT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE STOKES CANNERY.
UM, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE AS I, AS I STATED, WE HAVE A, A COURT ORDER FOR, FOR VARIOUS DOCUMENTS THAT WE WOULD THEN NEED TO PROVIDE, UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HERE, UM, BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026 IS WHAT OUR COURT ORDER SEES.
SIMILAR IN ONE ASPECT MM-HMM
SOUTH HAMPTON'S, PRETTY MUCH IN COMPLIANCE.
WE ARE, UM, WE ARE UNIQUE BECAUSE THE THIRD ROUND, WE, WE WON A LAWSUIT AND, AND WE WERE FORGIVEN OUR THIRD ROUND OBLIGATION, UM, BECAUSE WE DESIGNATED A PROPERTY, UM, AND THE DEVELOPER COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK.
UM, AND THEN WE FILED LITIGATION, UM, AND, UH, THE COURT GRANTED, UH, UM, US THE WAIVER FOR THE THIRD ROUND.
AND THEY GRANTED YOU A TIME PERIOD TILL THE END OF THE YEAR, IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY.
SO NOW I'M GONNA PUT MY TERRANCE COOK JUDGE HAT ON, WHICH I'M NOT TERRENCE COOK, HONORABLE TERRENCE COOK.
SO MEDFORD TOWNSHIP NOW COMES IN FRONT OF TERRENCE COOK ROUND TWO.
HAVE WE SOLVED ROUND TWO SAMMO? WE DON'T HAVE THAT ONE SOLVED.
HOW DO WE HAVE THAT SOLVED FOR THE 16 UNITS IN MEDFORD PLACE? OKAY, HOW ABOUT ROUND THREE?
[01:20:01]
ROUND THREE WILL BE RESOLVED.ROUND THREE WILL BE RESOLVED BY THE DESIGNATION OF FLYING W.
AND THEN NOW WE'RE IN ROUND FOUR WITH TEXT, WHICH TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION ROUND THREE BEING PART OF THAT COMPLIANCE.
WE'RE GOING DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M ASKING COUNSEL TO REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, WE HAVE CONTROL, BUT WE WON'T HAVE CONTROL IN THE NEAR FUTURE IF THIS CONTINUES TO GO THE WAY IT'S GOING.
I HAVE A RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT, AND I WILL, AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU BECAUSE THIS IS OUTTA CONTROL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS YOUNG LADY IS, BUT, UH, ACCUSE A DEVELOPER TO SAY THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN FRONT OF THIS TOWN ON TWO PROPERTIES THAT I HAVE UNDER CONTRACT, WHICH ARE 500 OF THOSE HOMES.
WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH ROUND THREE AND FLAWLESSLY DEVELOPED THOSE PROJECTS FLAWLESSLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE UP HERE WITH, BUT WHO'S GOT WHATEVER WITH REGARDS TO WHAT DEVELOPER, BUT THEY DELIVERED, TAKE A LOOK AT AUTUMN PARK, TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROJECTS.
THE ONLY ONE IN ROUND THREE THAT DIDN'T GET DEVELOPED WAS TO W BUT THAT COMPANY CAN DEVELOP A HOME.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MA'AM.
HELLO, MY NAME'S HEATHER HUDSON.
I LIVE AT 13 MELTON IN MEDFORD.
UM, I'M COMING JUST WITH A SUGGESTION AND UM, IT'S BECAUSE I WATCH OTHER TOWNS COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO I WATCH EVESHAM TOWNSHIPS, UM, EVERY MONTH AS LONG AS AS WELL AS YOU GUYS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IN THEIR MEETING, I WANTED TO SHARE THE IDEA AND JUST PUT IT OUT THERE FOR YOU TO MAYBE DISCUSS AND, UM, SEE IF IT WOULD WORK HERE.
BUT, UM, DURING THEIR MEETINGS, THEIR MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING, THEY ASK A STAFF MEMBER FROM EACH ONE OF THEIR TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENTS TO BE PRESENT.
AND I REALIZE TONIGHT WE HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL STAFF MEMBERS HERE.
BUT, UM, THEY HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN, MAYBE MORE THAT ATTEND EACH MEETING AND YOU'LL SEE IT AT THE END OF THEIR AGENDA WHERE THEY'RE LISTED.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOLICITORS REPORT AND THEY WILL COME UP AND SPEAK THE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS REPORT SPEAKS ENGINEERS REPORT, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE REPORT, THE GOLF COURSE, POLICE, FIRE, AND EMS REPORT.
AND IT GIVES, I THINK, A NICE UPDATE TO EVERYBODY IN THE TOWN.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL, WHAT EVERYBODY'S WORKING ON, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT YOU WOULD BENEFIT, I THINK THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY BY HEARING WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING ON.
FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW IT'S BEEN MENTIONED IF TRASH IS AN ISSUE WHERE IT HAD BEEN, UM, BUT WE HAD THE, THE, THE YARD HERE AND THEY GAVE THEIR UPDATE SOMEONE FROM THAT DEPARTMENT, THEN THEY COULD SPEAK TO IT.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THOSE ANSWERS, BUT THEY DO.
SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE THEIR INPUT, ESPECIALLY IF A RESIDENT IS ASKING A QUESTION AND YOU NEED AN ANSWER THAT NIGHT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT TOWN DOES AND I JUST WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU'D DISCUSS AND, AND CONSIDER IT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS TOO THAT I LEARNED WAS I GOT THE NAME OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT DEPARTMENT BY WATCHING IT, AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THEM AND ASK A QUESTION.
THEY ACTUALLY EMAILED THEM AND THEY CALLED ME BACK.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED WAS THAT THE GOLF COURSE IS OWNED BY STROM TOWNSHIP, WHICH I NEVER KNEW AND I GREW UP THERE.
I ALSO DIDN'T KNOW THE REVENUE STREAM FOR THAT GOLF COURSE IS OVER $3 MILLION A YEAR.
AND ON THEIR WEBSITE, WHEN I SENT THE EMAIL, THE GENTLEMAN CALLED ME BACK KINDLY, HE TOLD ME IT'S PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE, I COULD, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT IT.
AND THAT HE ALSO SAID HALF OF THAT $3 MILLION GOES BACK TO THE TOWNSHIP.
HALF OF IT GOES INTO THE OPERATIONAL COSTS.
SO WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR BUDGETS AND TRYING REVENUE STREAMS, PERSONALLY, I ENVISION A, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF A, UM, UH, PAR FOUR
[01:25:01]
OR A DRIVING RANGE AS A POSSIBILITY HERE IN OUR TOWN.MAYBE UTILIZING SOME OPEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
IT MAY BE A BENEFIT, BUT IT'S ALSO A REVENUE STREAM BUT DOESN'T INVOLVE COMMERCIAL AND COULD ALSO MAYBE BRING YOU IN, UM, SOMETHING, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO IT.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED A COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE THOSE IDEAS BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING.
AND WE HAVE SO MANY BRILLIANT PEOPLE IN SO MANY AREAS.
AND YOU CAME UP WITH A GOOD IDEA, RIGHT?
NOW GRANTED, I'M SURE IT'S TAKEN THEM A LONG TIME, BUT THEY FIGURED SOMETHING OUT.
SOMETHING WE COULD ALSO MAYBE DO HERE.
UM, IN ADDITION, I WILL JUST END ON THIS.
UM, WHEN WE HAD THE WINTER STORM, THAT GOLF COURSE DRIVING RANGE WAS STILL OPEN.
SO FOR 26 DAYS STRAIGHT, THEY STILL HAD REVENUE THERE AT THE DRIVING RANGE, WHEREAS THE GOLF COURSE WAS OBVIOUSLY COVERED IN SNOW.
SO SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER IT WAS STILL YEAR ROUND.
HEATHER, BEFORE YOU GO, UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, WE JUST STARTED SOMETHING AND I BELIEVE ANGELA POSTED IT TODAY.
UM, WHEREAS I WOULD SAY WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA HAVE EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD HERE BECAUSE OF, AGAIN, CHACHING.
OH, WE DID PUT OUT A PORTAL, PORTAL THAT ANY RESIDENT CAN ASK A QUESTION, IT'LL GET SHUFFLED THROUGH THE COUNCIL, IT'LL GO THROUGH ANY OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
AND THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND WE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT ALL THE DETAILS.
WE'RE LITERALLY JUST MAKING IT HAPPEN NOW.
BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT, THAT IF THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ASKED IN THE PORTAL AND THEY'RE ASKED OF DPW OR WHOMEVER, AS A BARE MINIMUM, THE TOWN MANAGER CAN GET THE INFORMATION FROM HIS DIRECTOR, UM, AND BRING THAT INFORMATION HERE.
SO IT MAY NOT BE QUITE WHAT EV'S DOING BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THEIR 3 MILLION FROM THE GOLF COURSE AND WE DON'T.
BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU THOSE ANSWERS AND ANYBODY ELSE.
UM, YOU'VE GOT THE OPTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING QUESTIONS, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER, UM, I BELIEVE IT LITERALLY STARTED TODAY.
I JUST THINK, I ALSO LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THEIR DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING ON.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE.
IF THEY'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPMENT, IF THEY'RE WORKING ON THE ROAD, IF THEY'RE WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IF THEY HAVE
AT THE VERY LEAST, WE COULD AT LEAST HAVE IT ON THE WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, FEATURES SOMEBODY EVERY YEAH.
EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S EVERY OTHER MONTH, UM, WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE, WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE, BUT THEM GIVING UPDATES, I THINK EVERYBODY CRAVES THE INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT, SO SPECIFICALLY, JUST SO THAT THE COUNCIL KNOWS WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE GOLF COURSE IS A UTILITY.
SO THE ONLY UTILITY THAT WE HAVE HERE IS OUR WATER AND SEWER UTILITY.
THEY NEED TO BE SELF-LIQUIDATING.
UM, UTILITIES CAN GIVE EXCESS REVENUE OR SURPLUS TO THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET OF WHICH THEY ARE A UTILITY TO.
UM, SO THAT'S HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IT.
UM, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU WOULD CREATE A DEPARTMENT, A GOLF COURSE DEPARTMENT.
IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY A UTILITY OF WHICH THEN YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SELF-LIQUIDATING.
UM, AND THERE'S OTHER CHALLENGES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
I BELIEVE LINDSAY POINTED OUT, UM, UH, WHICH SHE DID A GREAT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ON OUR BUDGET, BUT THE, UM, WE DON'T TAKE UTILITY SURPLUS.
WE TOOK A VERY, VERY SMALL PIECE TO PAY FOR, UM, STAFF THAT CROSS BETWEEN THE UTILITY AND THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT WE DON'T TAKE SURPLUS FROM THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REMAIN SELF-LIQUIDATING AND THERE'S, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS THAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN.
SO RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY EVE SHAM IS, IS GOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS THAT THEY NEED TO DO AT THE GOLF COURSE.
UM, BUT IT, IT ALL IS AN EBB AND FLOW BASED OFF OF, IT MUST BE A UTILITY IN ORDER TO BORROW THE MONEY.
IF IT'S A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE TOWN, IT'S GONNA ALREADY BE FOLDED INTO THE TOWNSHIP BUDGET.
SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S A, IT CAN BE AN ADDED REVENUE SOURCE MM-HMM
BUT IT'S NOT A LIQUIDATED REVENUE SOURCE THAT THAT FUNDS.
UM, AND AGAIN, I THINK TO MRS. LUCAS'S PART, YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND THIS IN, IN THE AUDIT, BUT OVER UTILIZATION OF ONE-TIME REVENUE SOURCES IS I THINK WHERE WE MIGHT BE IN AN ISSUE.
'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T REGENERATE THAT ONE-TIME REVENUE SOURCE, UH, IN THE NEXT BUDGET, THEN YOU HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING, IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
PUTTING $1.5 MILLION OF, UM, OF A REVENUE SOURCE FROM A UTILITY MIGHT BE GOOD ONE YEAR.
AND THEN THERE'S A CATASTROPHIC, UM, WILDFIRE THAT HAPPENS AT THE, AT THE UTILITY.
IT DOES HAVE A CATERING AND OTHER WHERE IT WILL GENERATE REVENUE.
BUT YOU, YOU LOSE A RENER REVENUE GENERATING ITEM.
AND IF THE TOWNSHIP RELIES ON THAT 1, 2, 1 TIME REVENUE TO LET'S SAY FUND EMPLOYEES, THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, YOU LOSE THAT FUNDING SOURCE,
[01:30:01]
YOUR NEXT STEP IS LAYOFFS.AND, AND TO COUNCIL, MR. SAND MOORE'S POINT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN MORE RATEABLES AND UTILITIES.
SO, UM, WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF WHICH THERE'S RESIDENT MEMBERS AND UM, THAT'S OVERSEEN BY THE MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UTILITIES ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GAIN REVENUE, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T NEED TO COPY HINS, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN DIFFERENT AREAS MIGHT UTILIZE AS THESE UTILITIES.
AND CHIEF, JUST ANOTHER ANGELA SHARES WHAT'S GOING ON EXTERNALLY, BUT MAYBE JUST HER POINT, SHE CAN ALSO SHARE WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING ON OUR TOWNSHIP PAGE.
UM, JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR OWN TOWNSHIP PAGE, BUT I KNOW IT COMES A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS YOU'D HAVE TO FOLLOW
UM, BUT MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORTHWHILE, YOU KNOW, SHARING AND DIFFERENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE COULD PUT IT ON OUR PAGE.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, WE JUST THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT LOVELY NET FOR, UH, MUSIC ON THE PORCH.
ALL KINDS OF MUSIC FROM THE SEVENTIES UP UNTIL COUNTRY.
IT WAS REALLY A REALLY A WONDERFUL DAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID A ROLL CALL.
OH, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO CLOSE SECOND.
[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]
UM, NOW WE ARE MOVING TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT.UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TONIGHT.
UH, WE HAVE TWO VOLUNTEERS FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, YOU, YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE THEIR INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET.
UH, SHIA, K OO, AND ELIZABETH BROWN.
UH, BOTH NEW EMS JUNIOR MEMBERS FOR STATION 2 5 8.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THAT FIRST AND THEN I CAN MOVE TO THE REST OF THE REPORT.
DO YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE REPORT? YEP.
UM, AS ALWAYS CHIEF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS DO.
UM, WE'LL, DINA, ROLL ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY'RE, THEY'RE MADE AWARE.
UM, AS FAR AS THE MISSED TRASH COLLECTIONS IN MEDFORD IS, WE ARE ALL WELL AWARE OF, UM, WE'VE SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH REPUBLIC THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THOSE DELAYS AND WE, WE WILL BE PRESENTING THEM WITH THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES REQUEST, UM, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ROUTES THAT WERE MISSED, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE ROOTS, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACT.
UM, AS FAR AS BRUSH COLLECTION GOES, I SPOKE TO BRIAN KOPP TODAY.
UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, UH, HE SAID THE CREWS ARE FINISHING IN ZONE TWO AND WE'LL BE MOVING INTO ZONE THREE, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST AREAS.
I DID BRING A, UH, MAP WITH, UH, WITH ME TONIGHT IN CASE ANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAD ANY QUESTIONS ON WHERE THOSE ZONES WERE.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON BRUSH COLLECTION.
AND THEN, UH, TO, UH, THE RESIDENTS, UH, REQUEST ABOUT OUR BANKING.
UM, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE AND OUR CFO CAN CONFIRM, WE DO NOT DO ANY BANKING WITH, UH, CITIZENS BANK.
UM, AND TO YOUR POINT EARLIER ABOUT BRUSH COLLECTION, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN MANY CHALLENGES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH PUBLIC WORKS 'CAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, JUST THE, THE NATURE OF THE BEAST THERE.
BUT, UM, IF, IF MAYBE WE COULDN'T EMPOWER ANGELA TO MAYBE PUT OUT THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, AND HIGHLIGHT THE ZONES.
I, I HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT ZONE I'M IN, BUT YOU KNOW, I MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT ZONE THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON.
SO THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD UTILIZE.
AND, AND MOVING INTO ZONE THREE, ZONE THREE IS A VERY LARGE ZONE.
IT'S VERY, UM, DENSELY POPULATED WITH TREES.
SO THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BRUSH IN THAT ZONE.
SO IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A MUCH LONGER TIME.
AND, UM, TO THE OTHER RESIDENT'S POINT, IF, IF THEY CANNOT FIND, UH, INFORMATION ON A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT HEAD ON OUR WEBSITE, IF ANYBODY EMAILS A MANAGER@MEDFORDTOWNSHIP.COM, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS TO THE APPROPRIATE MANAGER AND THAT THEY GET BACK TO THEM WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR ANSWERS.
UH, WE DO NOT HAVE A CLERKSHIP REPORT FOR THIS AREA.
[X. BILL LIST]
WE HAVE A SINGLE BILL LIST FROM APRIL 28TH, 2026.ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILLS LIST? NO.
[XI. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION]
MOVING TO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION.DO I HAVE A MOTION ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 12? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 12 REPEALING AND VACATING TOWNSHIP CODE SIX 13 AND ENTITLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW SECTION SIX 13 ENTITLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[01:35:01]
YOU.THIS ORDINANCE, AS MR. VARGA MENTIONED EARLIER, IS A MODELED ORDINANCE FROM DCA RELATED TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS.
UM, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A MOTION.
UM, SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE ON MAY 12TH.
[XII. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S)]
WE NOW MOVE TO ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS.DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 11.
DO WE NEED IT? READ IT'S ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 11 AMENDING CHAPTER 71.
FEES AND LICENSES OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE OF WATER, UH, FOR WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING, MR. MAYOR.
OKAY, SO NOW I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC FOR, UM, FOR MATTERS RELATED ONLY TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 11.
ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 11 PASSES.
[XIII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS]
WILL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.CORRECT MR. MAYOR, THERE ARE TWO REMAINING CON, UH, UH, RESOLUTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
RESOLUTION 100 DASH 2026 ADOPTING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPENDING PLAN IN, ACCORDING WITH THE TOWNSHIP, FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS AND RESOLUTION 1 0 5 DASH 2026 AMENDING APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
THOSE ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I DON'T BELIEVE I OFFICIALLY REMOVED THE OTHERS FROM CONSENT, IS THAT CORRECT? WE DID DO THAT IN THE BEGINNING.
SO NOW, UM, MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 1 0 1 AND 1 0 5, CORRECT? NO.
MR. NO, MR. MAYOR RESOLUTION ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH FIVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, I'M 1 0 5.
MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS 100 DASH 2 0 2 6 AND RESOLUTION 1 0 5 DASH 2 0 2 6.
[XIII.2. Resolution 101-2026 – Conditionally Designating DR Horton as the “Redeveloper” of Lots 28.02 & 39.03, Block 302 Medford, County of Burlington. State of New Jersey]
RESOLUTION IS GONNA BE RESOLUTION 1 0 1 DASH 2026 CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING DR.HOR, DR. HORTON AS THE REDEVELOPER OF LOTS 28.02 AND 39.03.
BLOCK 3 0 2 MEDFORD, COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE MAYOR IN PUBLIC'S CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS THE CAMP EFS PROPERTY.
YOU NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND THEN ROLL CALL.
[XIII.3. Resolution 102-2026 – Conditionally Designating DR Horton as the “Redeveloper” of Lots 6.01 & 6.02, Block 803 Medford, County of Burlington. State of New Jersey]
NEXT RESOLUTION IS GONNA BE RESOLUTION 1 0 2 DASH 2026 CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING DR. HORTON AS THE REDEVELOPER OF LOT 6.01 AND 6.02 BLOCK 8 0 3.MEDFORD COUNTY OF BURLINGTON STATE IN NEW JERSEY.
FOR MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THIS IS THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS KIRBY MILL OBJECTION AND PER THE CONDITIONAL DESIGNATION.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR A CORRECTION.
THAT IS THE RICK'S AUTO BODY PROPERTY AS WELL.
[XIII.4. Resolution 103-2026 – Conditionally Designating DR Horton as the “Redeveloper” of Lots 14, 26, 29 & 49, Block 302 Medford, County of Burlington. State of New Jersey]
NEXT RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION 1 0 3 DASH 2026 CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING DR. HORTON AS THE REDEVELOPER OF LOTS.MEDFORD, COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THIS IS THE PROPERTY COMMON KNOWN AS TINGER.
MOTION APPROVED THE CONDITIONAL DESIGNATION.
[XIII.5. Resolution 104-2026 – Conditionally Designating DR Horton as the “Redeveloper” of Block 301, Lot 5.01 and Block 303, Lots 1, 3 and 4 Medford, County of Burlington. State of New Jersey]
FINAL RESOLUTION FOR CONSIDERATION IS RESOLUTION 1 0 4 DASH 2026 CONDITIONALLY DESIGNATING DR. HORTON AS THE REDEVELOPER OF BLOCK 3 0 1 LOT 5.01 AND BLOCK 3 0 3 0 3 LOTS.MEDFORD, COUNTY OF BURLINGTON, STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THIS IS THE PROPERTY COMMON, COMMONLY KNOWN AS FLYING W OKAY.
SO MOVE MOTION FOR THE CONDITIONAL DESIGNATION.
THERE'S NO, NO REASON TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, WE CAN HAVE AN ADJOURNMENT IF THE COUNCIL SO IS SO ENTITLED.