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[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]
TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF MEDFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL.THIS MEETING IS CALLED IN PURSUANT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF JUNE 23RD, 2026, WAS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE BOLTON BOARD AND THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON MAY 18TH, 2026.
IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND IS ON FILE.
THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
I PLEDGE ALL TO FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PUBLIC FOR WHICH SUSTAINS ONE NATION INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[IV. Communications, Scheduling Matters, Council Agenda, Presentations and Any Amendments to the Agenda]
HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.ANY COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL? UH, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST ONE QUICK THING, UH, JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE AT AROUND 8 25 WE REHEARSAL IN THE MEETING, I MAY HAVE TO STEP ASIDE FOR A, UH, MEETING FOR WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES.
SO JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF THAT.
UM, UH, FOR THIS MEETING, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE KELSEY FROM D OUR, OUR, UH, LAW FIRM, DITY LAW FIRM.
YOU'RE STEPPING BEING IN FOR PAT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING IN HERE.
UM, UH, JUST WANT TO THANK OR CONGRATULATE, EXCUSE ME, THE MEMBERS OF THE SHAWNEE CLASS OF 2026 AND THE METFORD MEMORIAL CLASS OF 2026 ON THEIR GRADUATION.
IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER METFORD RESIDENTS OR ANY, ANYONE GRADUATING FROM A, ANY SORT OF VOCATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR THAT THEY'RE PARTAKING IN, UM, IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE, UH, THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GRADUATE.
GREAT CEREMONIES FOR BOTH BOARDS OF EDS.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE SCHEDULING ITEMS. JULY 7TH, 2026 WILL BE A REGULAR MEETING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.
UM, I'LL JUST NOTE NOW, AND IT'LL BE POSTED ON SOCIAL AS WELL, THAT WE WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE GOING DIRECTLY INTO EXECUTIVE AT THE START OF THAT MEETING.
SO I WOULD WANT NOT WANT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PROCEED AS A NORMAL SCHEDULED MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA START THE MEETING, GO TO EXECUTIVE AND COME OUT.
SO, UM, YOU'D LIKE TO SHOW UP A LITTLE BIT LATER.
THAT'LL BE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW.
JULY 28TH WILL BE THE FOLLOWING MEETING OF THAT.
THAT'LL BE A TOWN HALL STYLE MEETING HERE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AT SIX 30.
UM, THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED FOR JULY 21ST.
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
OF MINUTES.WE HAVE THE JUNE 4TH, 2026 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES, THE JUNE 9TH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND THE JUNE 9TH EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON THE MINUTES? NO MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE NOW, WE HAVE NO DISCUSSION ITEMS THIS EVENING.
OH, I JUST WANNA MENTION THE FOOD TRUCK NIGHT.
YEAH, IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.
IT WAS LIKE BEING IN PHILADELPHIA, KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.
[VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.UM, WE AFFORD EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, OR AS MUCH AS YOU'D LIKE TO.
AND, UH, CHIEF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND HOLDING THE MINUTES, UH, AT THE CLOCK.
HI, MY NAME'S JIM PRO, 2 77 HOPEWELL ROAD.
I'VE BEEN UP HERE A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE.
I FEEL LIKE AN UGLY STEPCHILD.
I SPEND $12,000 A YEAR ON TAXES, AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I, IF I GET A PENNY OUT OF IT, I'VE NEVER SENT A KID TO SCHOOL.
I PAY $8,000 A YEAR FOR SCHOOL TAXES.
AND MR. MAYOR, STARTING AT THE TOP, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I SENT YOU SEVERAL EMAILS, NO RESPONSE.
YOU GET A STIPEND OUTTA MY TAX MONEY.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET A RESPONSE? I'VE HAD A BAMBOO ISSUE FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
I'M ON MY FOURTH ORDINANCE COMPLAINT.
THAT TOWNSHIP DOESN'T ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
I'M IN THE SAME SPOT THAT I AM.
TWO YEARS AGO, I'VE ASKED TO TALK TO THE PROSECUTOR.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REMEDIATED.
WHEN IS ANYONE GONNA DO ANYTHING? WE'LL GIVE YOU YOUR FULL TIME AND THEN I'LL RESPOND.
SO NUMBER ONE, I HAVE THE BAMBOO ISSUE.
IT'S GONNA GO IN A CIRCLE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AS SOON AS IT GOES OVER, I FILE ANOTHER COMPLAINT.
I'VE ASKED, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE THAT YOU GUYS PASSED? NOTHING'S BEEN DONE.
NUMBER TWO, I'VE STOOD UP HERE BEFORE WITH TRAFFIC COMPLAINTS ON HOPEWELL ROAD.
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TWO YEARS AGO I SPOKE WITH THE CAPTAIN.I'VE MADE COMPLAINTS OVER 30 YEARS.
I HAD OFFICER SMITH COME TO MY HOUSE AGAIN ON SUNDAY.
I CALLED THE POLICE TWO WEEKS AGO.
I WANT THE TRAFFIC CONTROLLED ON MY ROAD.
IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I WILL GO OUT AND SLOW IT DOWN MYSELF, PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
I WILL WALK ACROSS THE ROAD IN A WALKER AND I WILL EXERCISE MY PEDESTRIAN RIGHTS.
AND I WILL STOP EVERY DAY BACK AND FORTH DURING RUSH HOUR UNTIL IT GETS STOPPED.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO.
SENDING SOMEBODY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SOMEBODY GOES, OH, I GOT A TICKET.
LAKE PINE HAS TWO OFFICERS THERE.
EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY, AGAIN, EVERYBODY KNOWS IF YOU GO ONE MILE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT, YOU GET A TICKET ON THAT TWO MILE STRETCH, MILE AND A HALF, STRETCH MY ROAD, 80 MILES AN HOUR, WHAT'S GONNA GET DONE ABOUT IT? AND, AND I TOLD THE OFFICER WHEN IT HAPPENS, I'M GONNA PULL MY TRAILER AND MY TRUCK ACROSS THE ROAD AND I'M GONNA TURN MY CAR OFF LIKE I DID ONE TIME WITH A LADY.
AND I'M GONNA SAY, MY TRUCK JUST BROKE DOWN AND IT'S GONNA STOP TRAFFIC ALL AROUND.
I'M GONNA DO IT EVERY DAY UNLESS WE GET SOME WORK DONE.
I'M GONNA, IF YOU GUYS AREN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING, I'M GONNA TAKE IT IN MY HANDS AND SLOW THE TRAFFIC DOWN.
I'VE HAD MY BRUSH OUT AT THE ROAD.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEEN DONE IN MAY.
THEY SAID, WE'RE BEHIND STILL NO BRUSH PICKUP.
I HAVE 30 FEET OF BRUSH ALONG THE ROAD THAT HAS BEEN OUT THERE SINCE MARCH.
MY HOUSE LOOKS LIKE THE GHETTO.
WHY DON'T I GET BRUSH COLLECTION? AND I'VE CALLED, I CALLED THURSDAY LAST WEEK.
OFFICE IS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY.
WHY DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE UP THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT 11 O'CLOCK? I HAD AN EVENT LAST WEEKEND.
I WANTED MY PROPERTY TO LOOK NICE.
IT'S ALSO A DANGER, AND I'M GONNA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD.
IT'S A LIABILITY TO THE TOWNSHIP RIGHT NOW.
BIKERS GO DOWN THAT ROAD AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE GOING 80 MILES AN HOUR.
THEY'RE GONNA PASS MY ROOTS STUMPS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR FOUR MONTHS.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE NOWHERE TO GO AND THEY'RE GONNA GET HIT BY A CAR OR THEY'RE GONNA GET STABBED BY STICKS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
HOPEWELL ROAD IS THE MAIN ROAD.
ALL THE CUL-DE-SACS GET DONE THAT HAVE FIVE HOUSES ON 'EM.
AND THE MAIN ROAD THAT IS, THAT PEOPLE DRIVE BIKES ON AND THERE'S TONS OF BIKE GROUPS THAT GO UP THAT ROAD.
THERE'S GONNA BE AN ACCIDENT THERE.
AND I'M PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD THAT IT'S A LIABILITY.
FINALLY, I'M GONNA BRING THIS UP ALSO, JUST FOR FUN AND GIGGLES.
THREE YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T PAY MY LATE FEE THAT YOU GUYS ASSESSED ME FOR MY TAXES FOR BEING LATE.
I GAVE YOU GUYS RECORD WITH A POSTED STAMP FROM THE PO FROM THE POST OFFICE.
AND THEN I GOT HELL FROM EVERYBODY SAYING, WE CAN'T TAKE THE CHARGE OFF.
WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO REFUND $10 BY LAW.
IF IT'S AN ERROR IN ACCOUNTING, YOU COULD HAVE REVERSED IT.
I JUST, ON ON THE RECORD, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS NOW.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE LOSING MONEY EVERY MONTH THAT I DON'T PAY THAT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
I HAVE A 12 OR $14 OUTSTANDING FEE.
YOU'VE ALREADY SPENT $16 SENDING ME MAIL EVERY QUARTER TELLING ME THAT MY TAXES ARE DUE FOR $15.
SO YOU GUYS CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
OR PLEASE STOP SENDING ME THE MESSAGES.
DON'T WASTE OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE $15 IN YOUR ARREARS.
STOP WASTING OUR TAX MONEY, SENDING ME A MESSAGE THAT I'M NEVER GONNA PAY.
I WILL DIE BEFORE I PAY THAT $15.
I SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I GET ANY ATTENTION.
LIKE, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET SOMETHING DONE? HERE'S MY TIME.
SO ON THE BAMBOO, I KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE SPOKE ON THE PHONE AT LEAST TWICE AND I FOLLOWED UP WITH THE MANAGER AFTER BOTH OF THOSE CALLS.
AND I CAN'T RESPOND TO YOUR EMAILS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO TO YOUR NEIGHBOR.
SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT I CAN RESPOND TO YOUR, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SEND ME THOSE EMAILS ASKING ME TO DO SOMETHING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, I I ASKED YOU TO GET THE PROSECUTOR TO CALL ME.
AND THIS ONE OF GOVERNMENT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT IN MY PURVIEW, TO SPEAK TO THE PROSECUTOR ON BEHALF OF YOU, AGAINST JUST TO MAKE A PHONE CALL TO LIKE GET IN TOUCH.
HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM THEN? WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO? YOU'D HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO GET THE PROSECUTOR.
THERE'S A SEPARATION OF GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S A JUDICIAL BRANCH, THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
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THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.THESE GENTLEMEN AND LADIES ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
THIS GENTLEMAN TO MY SIDE IS THE ACTING EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THIS TOWN.
AND THEN THERE'S THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.
SO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH HAS A JUDGE, IT HAS A PROSECUTOR, IT HAS A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND HAS A COURT ADMINISTRATOR.
ANYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH, THROUGH A SUMMONS GOES TO THEM.
SO IT'S OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HANDS.
THEY'VE ISSUED THE SUMMONS, UM, OR ISSUED A TICKET, OR YOU FILE COMPLAINT.
IT THEN GOES THROUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS.
THIS BODY NOR ANYBODY INVOLVED IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T CHANGE THE JUDICIAL PROCESS.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY, WHEN SOMEBODY DOESN'T CUT THEIR GRASS, IT TAKES TH ALMOST THREE YEARS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM TO FINALLY GET THEM TO COMPLY WITH AN ORDER THAT THE JUDGE CAN DO.
IT'S BAIL REFORM, IT'S JUDICIAL REFORM.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ISSUE BENCH WARRANTS ANYMORE.
IT, THERE'S, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD CANNOT SOLVE BECAUSE IT'S A SEPARATION OF POWERS.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH HAS THE RIGHT TO ADJUDICATE WHATEVER INFRACTION POTENTIALLY HAS HAPPENED WITHIN THIS MUNICIPALITY.
SO WHEN IT COMES IN, YOUR COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN HEARD.
AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, FROM REVIEWING THAT MATTER THAT THE MAYOR SENT TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE.
BUT IF I JUST WANT TO SPEAK WITH THE PROSECUTOR, I'M THE VICTIM AND I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
THEY MADE A STATEMENT SIX MONTHS AGO AND NOBODY'S ENFORCING IT.
I FILED ANOTHER COMPLAINT AND THEY DON'T EVEN ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY TOLD YOU TO REMEDIATE IT.
SO IT GETS PUSHED DOWN THE CAN, GETS KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FURTHER.
HOW DO I GET THE PRO, WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO TO GET A PHONE CALL FROM THE PROSECUTOR TO DISCUSS THE CASE? I HAD ZERO OPPORTUNITY.
HAS THE CASE BEEN ADJUDICATED? HAS A RULING? BEEN TWICE.
SO A RULING HAS HAPPENED TWICE.
THE PROSECUTOR'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE RULING.
THE RULING THEN NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW YOUR SPECIFIC ITEM.
I WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM THE COURT SYSTEM WHERE YOUR ITEMS ARE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE IT IS IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS.
BUT THE PROSECUTOR IS GOING TO MAKE A CASE TO THE JUDGE.
THE JUDGE IS GOING TO GIVE A RULING.
PROSECUTOR IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP YOU ON A RULING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN RENDERED, MR. UNDERSTOOD.
BUT HE CAN TAKE IT TO THE JUDGE.
AND ANOTHER SUMMONS WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE JUDGE.
I WANNA HELP YOU THE BEST I CAN.
BUT, BUT WE CANNOT INTERVENE IN THAT MATTER.
THEN JUST RESPOND TO THE EMAIL AND SAY, I CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT.
THAT'S, I, I DIDN'T, I'M NOT JUMPING AT YOU.
BUT YEAH, JUST RESPOND TO ME LIKE, I'M LIKE, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET A RESPONSE? JUST SAY I CAN'T.
I CAN, I MEAN, YOU'VE USED YOUR TIME.
WE ARE GONNA ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, I JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE A BACK AND FORTH AT THIS POINT, BUT TRAFFIC ON, SO LET'S JUMP TO THE BRUSH.
WE ARE IN ZONE THREE AND ZONE FIVE.
UM, THEY'RE WORKING BACKWARDS.
THERE WERE TWO OF OUR CLAW TRUCKS WENT DOWN.
UM, WE ARE NOW BORROWING A SHIPPER TRUCK THROUGH A A, UM, AN AGREEMENT WITH, WELL, IT'S MORE OF A UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TWO MUNICIPALITIES AT THIS POINT UNTIL WE GET THE FINAL AGREEMENT IN.
SINCE WE SHARE EQUIPMENT BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES, WE TYPICALLY DO NOT CHIP BRUSH HERE, WE CALL IT BECAUSE IT'S IN LARGE PILES.
UM, IF IT'S IN A LARGE PILE THAT CANNOT BE CHIPPED, THEN IT WILL END UP GOING, UM, TO THE, UH, TO THE, UH, THE CLAW TRUCK.
AND WHEN THEY GET THERE, RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE ONE WORKING CLAW TRUCK OUT OF THE THREE THAT WE HAVE, UM, IN THE SERVICE OF THE TOWN.
THESE WERE DUE IN MAY FOR ZONE FOUR.
BUT I CAN'T, I CAN'T ANTICIPATE BREAKDOWNS.
SO I, I MEAN, TO HAVE MORE CLAW TRUCKS IS NOT THE OPTION.
UM, SO WE HAVE BORROWED EQUIPMENT FROM OTHER TOWNS TO TRY AND GET CAUGHT UP.
UM, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR'S, UH, RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CONTINUE THROUGH ZONE THREE 'CAUSE IT'S OUR LARGEST ZONE.
AND THEN TO START WORKING BACKWARDS IN ZONE FIVE TO THEN GET THE ZONE FOUR, I EXPRESSED THE LIABILITY CONCERN.
IF YOU DON'T WANNA DO A MAIN ROAD, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
WE, IT'S THE POLICY, THE POLICY OF, OF THE TOWN IS THE DO IT IN ZONES.
UM, THE MANAGER'S OFFICE CAN ALWAYS REVIEW THAT AND CHANGE THE POLICY.
BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, UM, SINCE CHIEF IS JUST THE ACTING MANAGER, THE INTERIM MANAGER WILL BACK PLAN IS ZONE FOUR DUE.
ZONE FOUR WILL GET DONE WHEN ZONE THREE IS COMPLETED.
UM, JUNE, I WAS TOLD JUNE A MONDAY JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY, MR. MAYOR, UM, THE TOWNSHIP IS CURRENTLY IN SUMMER HOURS.
SO A HOLIDAY IS A FULL SEVEN HOURS TO THE EMPLOYEE.
UM, OR IF THEY'RE AN EIGHT HOUR EMPLOYEE, A FULL EIGHT HOURS TO THE EMPLOYEE IF WE'RE IN SUMMER HOURS.
AND WE'VE CHANGED THE HOURS AROUND THE FRIDAY.
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EARLY WAS MOVED BECAUSE CURRENTLY IF WE KEPT FRIDAY AS A HOLIDAY, IT WOULD'VE ONLY BEEN FIVE HOURS TO THE EMPLOYEE.AND THEY, OR NO, FOUR HOURS TO THE EMPLOYEE, THEY WOULD'VE BEEN SHORTCHANGE THREE HOURS THAT THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO HAVE AS A FULL HOLIDAY.
SO THE SUMMER HOURS THAT ARE STARTING FROM, UH, AFTER MEMORIAL DAY TILL LABOR DAY NECESSITATED THAT THE FRIDAY HOURS NEEDED TO BE MOVED, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS POSTED, WAS DISCUSSED PREVIOUS DAY IT WAS POSTED.
THIS WOULD ALSO BE HAPPENING AT THE JULY 3RD HOLIDAY, WHICH IS THE OBSERVED HOLIDAY FOR JULY 4TH.
THAT HAS BEEN POSTED AS WELL WITH THE SAME WITH JUNETEENTH.
THAT, UH, ON, ON JUNE 3RD IS THE HOLIDAY.
JUNE 2ND, THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES WILL SHUT DOWN AT 12 NOON DUE TO THE SUMMER HOURS THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
THE TRAFFIC ISSUE, PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR.
IT'S ALL ON THE, IT IS ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.
IT'S POSTED AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
BRANDON, IF, IF MR.
AND THEY'RE AWARE OF THE SITUATION.
BUT I, THEY'VE BEEN AWARE OF IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND RIGHT.
NOTHING'S BEEN DONE CONSISTENTLY TO GET PEOPLE TO GO, UGH, THIS IS A BAD SPOT TO GO FAST.
YOU NEED TO DO A CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO ALL DAY LONG PEOPLE KNOW THERE MIGHT BE A COP HERE UNDER TITLE 40.
THIS MUNICIPALITY CANNOT DICTATE TO ITS POLICE CHIEF HOW HE OPERATES HIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF MEDFORD.
UM, THE MANAGER'S OFFICE CAN PUT THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE POLICE CHIEF AS WE DO FOR OTHER AREAS OF SPEEDING.
UM, BUT THIS MUNICIPALITY AND THIS BOARD CANNOT DIRECT ITS POLICE CHIEF IN ANY WAY, FORM OR SHAPE WITHIN THE OPERATION.
SO THAT'S WHY I I JUST MADE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU HAD EXPRESSED YOUR CONCERN DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE MM-HMM
SO THAT IT'S BEEN NOTED NOT ONLY HERE ON THE RECORD, BUT DIRECTLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'LL BE WALKING WITH A WALKER ACROSS THE ROAD SOON.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO TAKE ANY LIABILITIES INTO YOUR OWN HOUSE.
IT'S NOT, I PEDESTRIANS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO TAKE MY DOG AND I'M GONNA WALK BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD AND THEN PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA HATE THE ROAD.
UM, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN SPEAK TO THAT LATE FEE.
UH, UNDER, UM, UNDER THE LAW, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE RECEIVED BY THE, UH, THE TAX COLLECTOR BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE 10TH DAY.
UM, THERE IS A GRACE PERIOD FROM THE FIRST OF THE 10TH.
THERE COULD BE AN EXTENSION IF THE 10TH IS ON A WEEKEND, A NON-WORKING, UH, DAY FOR THE MUNICIPALITY.
UM, I, I, THAT IS A LEGAL ITEM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY WITH BECAUSE ANY TYPE OF LATE FEE COULD RESULT IN A TAX SALE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ANYONE COULD PAY SOMEONE ELSE'S TAX? I, NO, I'M JUST CURIOUS.
IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? I MEAN, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT, BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA DO IT IF, IF A I DON'T WANT ANYBODY DOING IT.
I'M GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT OUTTA IT.
BUT, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SAVE US THE, THE MAILER FOR THE LATE FEE, UNFORTUNATELY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS AN ASSESSED LATE FEE.
IT WAS AN INCORRECT ACCOUNTING ERROR BECAUSE IT WAS IN ON TIME.
WE HAVE ALL YOUR COMMENTS ON THE RECORD AND I THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED AT LEAST, OR AT LEAST TOUCHED ON ALL OF THEM.
BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP SOMETHING 'CAUSE I KNOW IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR SPEED LIMITS TO GET CHANGED.
BUT WE LIVE IN BROOKSIDE ON NEW FREEDOM ROAD.
THE STRETCH OF NEW FREEDOM ROAD BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENTS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC, WHICH, I'M SORRY, WHICH ROAD? I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
SO BETWEEN MEDFORD, CHASE AND BROOKSIDE, THAT IS THE ONE STRETCH THAT IS 40 MILES AN HOUR.
I WOULD BE CAREFUL CROSSING WITH YOUR DOG BECAUSE I'VE HAD PEOPLE STOP FOR ME.
I GO TO CROSS WITH MY DOG AND PEOPLE HAVE PASSED THEM ON THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE AND ALMOST HIT ME AND THEN CALLED ME AN EFFING DOG WALKER.
AND I'M LIKE, I HAVE THE RIGHT AWAY.
SO WHEN YOU DRIVE FURTHER DOWN TO COME OUT ON CHURCH, IT GOES DOWN TO 35.
I HONESTLY THINK THAT WHOLE STRETCH SHOULD BE 25 BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE WALKING, THERE'S PEOPLE BIKING, THERE'S CHILDREN GOING FROM ONE DEVELOPMENT TO THE OTHER.
UM, HAVING THAT SPEED LIMIT BE 40 MILES AN HOUR, EVEN WITH THE CROSSWALKS THAT PEOPLE DON'T RESPECT.
I MEAN, I LITERALLY WILL, WILL STAND BACK FROM THE CROSSWALK IF A CAR IS COMING.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA TAKE THE CHANCE THAT THEY'RE GONNA STOP BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY
[00:20:01]
DO.AND THEN TWICE PEOPLE HAVE PASSED THOSE PEOPLE STOPPING AND ALMOST HIT ME AND MY NEIGHBORS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME THING.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE CUTTING THROUGH THERE TO TRY AND AVOID.
CAN I, CAN I OTHER PLACES CAN, MAY I PAUSE YOU JUST FOR ONE MOMENT? SURE.
UM, MR. NOLL, IS THAT, THAT THAT, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY ROAD, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S TOWNSHIP ROAD.
WE WOULD NEED TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY.
UM, IN ORDER TO NECESSITATE THE, ANY OF THE THE ORDINANCE CHANGE.
ANY OF THE CHALLENGES YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST WITH TAUNT AND, AND HOPEWELL AND THINGS OF NATURE.
THAT'S 'CAUSE IT'S THE COUNTY'S INVOLVED.
THERE'S MUCH MORE LAYERS THERE, BUT, AND I'M NOT PROMISING YOU ANYTHING OH, OH NO.
I JUST, AT THE TOWNSHIP LEVEL, WE'RE GONNA DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.
I'M JUST CONCERNED WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING.
THAT IT'S GONNA EVEN NECESSITATE MORE FOR PEOPLE TO BE MINDFUL OF.
AND JUST FOR MY NOTES, PEDESTRIAN, YOU'RE ENCOURAGING US TO MAKE THE ENTIRE STRETCH IN THAT ZONE FROM THIS, FROM THE STOP SIGN TO CHURCH ROAD STOP AT CHURCH SHOULD BE 30, SHOULD BE 25 TO THE STOP SIGN AT ARIS TOWN.
NEW FREEDOM TO ARIS TOWN AND CHURCH.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING OVER, I WALK THERE SOMETIMES TOO.
YOU, YOU REALLY DON'T GET A GOOD VIEW OF THE CARS COMING AND ESPECIALLY THE TURN THE FURTHER THE, THE ONE THAT'S FURTHER FROM RIS TOWN, THERE'S A LUMP AND IT'S EVEN HARDER TO SEE IF PEOPLE ARE COMING.
UM, IT'S, IT'S SET UP VERY, VERY DANGEROUSLY AND LIKE, AND I, WHEN MY KIDS ARE LEARNING TO DRIVE, I'M LIKE LOOK LEFT, LOOK RIGHT, LOOK LIKE, AND THEN JUST GO WHEN YOU'RE GONNA GO BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT STOP.
THEY DO NOT RESPECT THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP EARLY ON 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES.
SO THE PROCESS FOR THAT AS MR. BLE STARTED WAS THAT FOR THE POLICE TO DO A SPEED STUDY FROM THAT STRETCH AND THEN SEND THE RESULTS TO OUR OFFICE AND THEN WE ANALYZE IT ALONG WITH THE POLICE, WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND SEE IF A, UH, REDUCTION IN SPEED IS WARRANTED.
THEN YOU'LL NEED AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE ORDINANCE.
OH, MR. MR. STAHL, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
IS THERE A PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING JORDAN ORDINANCE? YES, THERE IS SECOND.
SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY? I THINK THE ONLY ORDINANCES WE DO HAVE ON TONIGHT ARE SECOND READING.
SO ALL FOUR WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE ARE NOW ONTO THE MANAGER'S REPORT.
[VIII. MANAGER’S REPORT]
YES SIR.UH, JUST THE APPROVALS FOR A MADELINE ZELISKY FOR NEW JUNIOR EMS VOLUNTEER STATION 2 5 8 AND THE APPROVAL OF GIA CAPUTO NEW JUNIOR EMS VOLUNTEER MEMBER STATION 2 5 8.
CHIEF, IF YOU COULD JUST PASS ON OUR THANKS TO THE NEW, UM, VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF OUR YES.
[IX. CLERK’S REPORT]
REPORT.WE HAVE A LIMITED BREWERY OFF-PREMISE PERMIT FOR MAGNIFY ANNIVERSARY PARTY ON JULY 18TH.
ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[X. BILL LIST]
TWO BILL LISTS FOR APPROVAL.WE HAVE A JULY 17TH, 2026, NUMBER ONE AND A JULY 17TH, 2020, 26.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE TWO BILL LISTS? SEEING NONE.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE HAVE THE ORDINANCES
[XI. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING(S)]
FOR SECOND READING.WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO READ ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 13? I'LL UM, MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 13 PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS GENERAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND RELATED EXPENSES IN AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP APPROPRIATING $3,093,000, THEREFORE IN AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF 2,938,350 IN GENERAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME.
SO, UM, THIS ORDINANCE IS, IS CREATING A BUDGET FOR CAPITAL ITEMS. IT GIVES THE ABILITY TO BOND FOR MONEY AND SET TERMS FOR USEFUL LIFE PURCHASES.
UH, CHIEF DOBY DETAILED SOME OF THE ITEMS INCLUDED IN THIS ORDINANCE IN THE LAST MEETING, SUCH AS A FORKLIFT, A FUEL SYSTEM, STREET SWEEPER, HVAC, AND, UH, OUR ROAD PROGRAM
[00:25:01]
TO PROTECT OUR ROAD PROGRAM AND PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.SO I'LL NEED A SECOND BEFORE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND NOW WE WILL OPEN UP TO PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE ONLY.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 13.
AND NOW FOR THE, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 14? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADAPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 14 PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS WATER SEWER UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND RELATED EXPENSES IN AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP APPROPRIATING 4 MILLION 800, 870 5,000, THEREFORE AN AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF 4,875,000 IN WATER, SEWER, UTILITY BONDS, OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE SAME.
SO THIS ORDINANCE AS DESCRIBED AT THE FIRST READING, IS FOR FUNDS TO BE APPROPRIATED FOR ITEMS INCLUDING SEWER PLAN IMPROVEMENTS, WELL AND WATER MAIN UPGRADES, ROAD PROGRAM, AND WATER METER REPLACEMENTS.
SO I'LL NEED A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.
ARE WE ASKING TO SPEAK NOW? I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 14? MARYANNE HOLLOWAY? UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND I WOULD'VE SPOKE AT THE FIRST ONE, BUT, UM, I'M GONNA RESPECTFULLY REQUEST, UM, TRYING TO FIND SOME OF THE ORDINANCES AND SOME OF THE RESOLUTIONS.
READING IS LIKE A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
I'VE GOTTEN BETTER WITH YOUR WEBSITE, BUT IT'S ALMOST A HIDE AND SEEK KIND OF SITUATION.
SO, UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
DO THE IMPROVEMENTS INCREASE THE, SO THE TOWN IS, UH, MORE THAN LIKELY GONNA PASS THIS TONIGHT.
IT'S A $4.8 MILLION BOND FOR THE UPGRADES TO THE WATER AND SEWER PLANT.
THIS IS ON TOP OF THE 16 TO 17% INCREASE JUST RECENTLY PASSED FOR THE WATER AND SEWER RATES TO THE RESIDENTS OF METH.
DO THESE IMPROVEMENTS INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR THE SEWER PLANT AND HOW MUCH OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE SEWER IS EARMARKED FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MEEN? WE'LL GO ONE AT A TIME.
SO MR. UMBA, THE FIRST QUESTION WAS, DOES THIS IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANT? IT DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
I JUST NEED ALRIGHT, BECAUSE THE WAY I WAS READING IT, THERE WAS A SLEEVE GOING IN, THERE'S PIPES BEING INCREASED IN SIZE, THERE'S SAME THING GOES FOR THE WATER.
HOW MUCH OF IT'S GOING TO THE NORTH SIDE? I BELIEVE PIPES WERE BEING INCREASED.
WE WE'RE S EXISTING PIPES JUST UPGRADING OF THE FACILITIES OF THE PLANT, THE THROUGHPUT IN THE PLANT TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
THERE'S NO INCREASE IN THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANT.
HOW MUCH IS OF IT IS ON THE NORTH SIDE, THE ENTIRE SEWER PLANT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE? NO.
HOW MUCH OF THE 4.8 MILLION IS GOING IN ON THE NORTH SIDE? ALL THE PLANT, UH, EXPENDITURES ARE ON, IT'S ALMOST ALL OF THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GOING IN.
I SAID ALL, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
CLIENT ON THE NORTH SIDE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
THE WELLS, MOST OF THE WELLS ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STATE THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM THAT IS CURRENTLY SERVING MEDFORD.
WHAT MS. HOLLOWAY IS GETTING AT IS, IS IT INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THE FOURTH ROUND HOUSING NUMBERS? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
THIS IS MAINTAINING CURRENT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP TO FUNCTION AND OPERATE A WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT TO DELIVER THE EFFICIENT SERVICES TO THOSE RATE PAYERS WITHIN MUNICIPALITY THAT ARE SERVICED BY THIS UTILITY.
THESE, THESE PROPO PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN, UH, PROPOSED FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
THEY'RE ON, SOME ARE ON A SCHEDULE, FOR INSTANCE, THE, WELL WE HAVE REHABILITATIONS, ET CETERA.
THESE, ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE DONE REGARDLESS OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT IMPACTED BY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AS THE RATE INCREASE THAT WAS PRIOR STATED BY MS. HOLLOWAY, THE RATE INCREASE AS WAS REPORTED DURING THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT IS DUE TO OUR NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER CONTRACT INCREASING.
THESE ITEMS ARE PAID THROUGH THROUGH CAPITAL.
SO IT'S ISSUING A BOND OF WHICH THERE IS A DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT THAT THE UTILITY SEPARATE FROM THE CURRENT FUND PAYS THAT DEBT SERVICE.
CAN YOU BRING YOUR MIC UP A LITTLE BIT? MY EAR IS RINGING, SO I CAN'T HEAR
[00:30:01]
YOU WELL TONIGHT.IS THIS ANY BETTER? I YOU ROCK.
IS THAT BETTER? THAT'S FABULOUS.
UM, I HAD A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS ON A COUPLE OF, UM, OTHER ITEMS THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW, THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THEM IF THIS WOULD BE ONLY, BUT MY QUESTION, I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION ON THE TWO BONDS THAT HAVE JUST GOTTEN PASSED.
WHAT IS THE INCREASE TO THE RATE PAYERS FOR THE $8 MILLION THAT IS BEING BONDED TODAY? SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FIRST ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE 13, IS A CURRENT FUND ORDINANCE.
SO THAT IS TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE, UM, SUPPORTING THAT BOND ISSUANCE.
THE 24 OR 20 26 14 IS A UTILITY.
SO RATE PAYERS PAY TOWARDS TOWARDS THAT.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
UM, AND THEN YOUR SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION, HOW MUCH IS IT INCREASING THE, UH, TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS, WHAT THEY'RE PAYING ON TOP OF THE RATE INCREASE THAT WAS PASSED PREVIOUSLY? HOW MUCH OF THIS, WHAT IS THE INCREASE? $8 MILLION HAS GOTTA BE PAID BY SOMEBODY.
SO WHAT IS THE INCREASES TO THE PEOPLE? SO AS, AS THIS STATED THAT THE TOWN COULD ISSUE A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT BOND OR A, UH, NOTE FOR IT, A NOTE WOULD NECESSITATE INTEREST PAYMENTS ONLY, UH, FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE TOWNSHIP FINANCES THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEBT SERVICE ITEM, UM, UNTIL WE STRIKE A BOND, I WON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW BOND.
SO THIS, WE HAVE TWO YEARS WORTH OF NOTES, WHICH IS TEMPORARY FINANCING.
THIS WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR OF A NOTE.
AND THEN WE'RE NECESSITATING TO HAVE A BOND ANTICIPATE OR AN ACTUAL BOND BEING ISSUED TO FUND ALL THREE IN SEPTEMBER, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO IN SEPTEMBER WE'LL KNOW WHAT THE RATE IS, UM, AND WHAT THE, UH, WHAT THE ANNUAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE WOULD BE, UM, FOR THE THREE YEARS WORTH OF CAPITAL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THIS YEAR'S CAPITAL.
NOW THEY'RE BIFURCATED RATE PAYERS.
THAT'S AN ACTUAL BOND THAT GOES OUT, STAYS ON THE RATE SIDE.
THE CAPITAL ON THE CURRENT FUND SIDE.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SEPARATE ITEMS. RATE PAYERS ARE ONLY PAYING THE ONE, WELL THEY'RE TAXPAYERS TOO, SO THEY'RE GONNA PAY BOTH SIDES.
BUT THE RATE INCREASE ONLY IS GOING TOWARDS THE UTILITY AND THAT CAPITAL.
SO THERE'S NO SPECIFIC NUMBER THAT YOU CAN GIVE THE RESIDENTS ON HOW MUCH THE INCREASES ARE GOING TO BE UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
THERE'S PROJECTIONS, LINDSAY, WHAT WAS OUR LAST PROJECTION? THAT IT POTENTIALLY COULD INCREASE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO IT DOES DEPEND ON WHAT THE INTEREST RATE COMES IN AT.
UM, TYPICALLY IF THE TOWNSHIP IS JUST DOING INTEREST ONLY IN BANS, UM, IT IS USUALLY MORE MONEY THAN ROLLING IT OUT BECAUSE YOU ARE, YOU'RE BASICALLY DOING AN INTEREST RATE FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT, UM, IN THAT YEAR TO CARRY THE, UH, THE DEBT SERVICE.
YOU CAN SPREAD IT OUT WHEN YOU DO A BOND.
SO IT, IT WOULD DEPEND ON HOW THAT, UH, IS STRUCK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I THINK YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GETTING TO.
SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING TO GIVE YOU A FIRM NUMBER UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GO TO BOND SALE AND SEE WHAT YIELDS IN US GETTING THE MONEY.
SO RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THESE ITEMS, THE PAST TWO YEARS WORTH OF CAPITAL HAVE BEEN FUNDED THROUGH A BAN BOND ANTICIPATION AS I STATED EARLIER.
TYPICALLY THE FIRST THREE YEARS ARE INTEREST ONLY PAYMENTS ON A BAN.
YOU CAN PAY PRINCIPAL, BUT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY PRINCIPAL.
USUALLY IT'S GOTTA PAY BE PAID SOONER OR LATER.
WELL, TYPICALLY WHAT TOWNSHIPS DO IS THAT YOU'LL BAN CAPITAL FOR THREE YEARS BECAUSE YOU'RE ALLOWED TO JUST PAY THE INTEREST ONLY THEN YOU DO PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS AFTER THAT.
SO THAT'S, IT'S TYPICAL AND STANDARD IN MOST MUNICIPALITIES THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU USUALLY DO.
UM, BECAUSE YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THE MONEY WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A BOND RATING HEARING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU GET PERMANENT FINANCING, YOU'RE GETTING A CREDIT RATING FROM THE CREDITORS.
BANS USUALLY DON'T NECESSITATE THAT.
SO UNLESS YOU WANT A CHEAPER RATE, I, I THINK I'M CLEAR.
I'M ASKING IF ANYBODY CAN TELL THE RESIDENTS OF MEFFORD WHAT THE PROJECTIONS OF THE INCREASES ARE GOING TO BE.
BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS THAT ARE DONE TO RUN A MUNICIPALITY EFFICIENTLY AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLY ON WHAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.
I MEAN, IT'S FINANCING 1 0 1, IT'S ECONOMICS 1 0 1.
SO WERE THERE PROJECTIONS DONE? AND CAN THE COUNCIL ADVISE THE RESIDENTS WHAT THE IMPACT CAN BE? I BELIEVE LINDSAY'S TRYING TO FIND YEAH, WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, BUT HOW DO YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? BECAUSE
[00:35:01]
THE BUDGET WAS PASSED AND THESE AMOUNTS WERE PART OF THAT BUDGET.HOW WE'RE AFFORDING THEM IS WHERE THE BONDING COMES IN.
THIS, THIS IS A STEP IN THE, IN THE PROCESS.
NOW WE NEED TO, WE NEED APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL THROUGH ORDINANCE TO SECURE THESE BONDS.
OKAY, MR. MERRICK, THIS I, I'LL DUMB IT DOWN A LITTLE MORE.
WHEN YOU PASS A BUDGET, YOU'RE SETTING OUT A SPENDING PLAN FOR THE YEAR THAT SPENDING PLAN CAN STAY OPEN FOR AN EXTRA YEAR IN RESERVE.
AND THEN THE EXPIRING YEAR GOES INTO SURPLUS.
YOU ARE AUTHORIZING THE POTENTIAL OF ISSUING UP TO $2.9 MILLION IN BONDS AND UP TO $4.8 MILLION IN BONDS.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU GO OUT AND DO THE BONDS.
AT THAT POINT, THE TOWNSHIP WILL DO A RESTRUCTURING AND A AND A REVIEW ON THOSE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO OUT, I LISTEN, I'LL GIVE YOU A SOUTH HAMPTON.
WE DID A $5.5 MILLION BOND OR UH, UH, ORDINANCE LAST YEAR.
I ONLY FUNDED A MILLION OF THEM IN THE FIRST YEAR.
WE FUNDED THE FULL AMOUNT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE PAID OFF OUR COMPLETE DEBT SERVICE THIS YEAR.
SO THE TOWN HAS THE FLEXIBILITY.
THIS IS SETTING A SPENDING CAPITAL PLAN OF WHICH THE CFO THEN CAN REVIEW BASED OFF OF WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS THAT WERE AUTHORIZED WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT SHE CAN THEN APPROVE.
IF IT'S FINES THAT WE ARE SEEING, REVENUE ARE TRENDING DOWN AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT THEY INCREASE IN, IN THE OVERALL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
THEN YOU GO AND YOU SAY 2.9 MILLION.
ALRIGHT, I'M ONLY GONNA FUND 50% OF THAT.
SO THAT 50% OF THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE DEBT SERVICE.
THIS IS AUTHORIZING THE ABILITY TO GET THE MONEY AND TO ALSO PURCHASE.
SO THERE, THERE'S REALLY NO, IT'S NOT HAPPENING AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND BY THE WAY.
SO YOU'RE ASKING A QUESTION THAT, THAT HAS CURRENTLY NO ANSWER TO IT.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY THIS AT SOME POINT.
UH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU IS IT'S ALL PART OF A RECIPROCAL PROCESS.
YOU GUYS HAVE GOT A TRAIN COMING.
YOU HAVE JUST GONE AND AUTHORIZED $8 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES PROBABLY WARRANTED.
HOWEVER, CAN THIS MUNICIPALITY AFFORD TO DO THIS? RIGHT NOW YOU ARE PASSING SOMETHING AND ONCE THOSE BONDS ARE APPROVED, THEY'RE THERE FOR THE SPENDING.
COUNCIL HASN'T BEEN INFORMED ON WHAT THEIR IMPACTS ARE.
DO YOU, CAN I ASK YOU WHAT THE RESERVES ARE LEFT AND YOU NOT, YOU HAVE ANY PROJECT THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH THIS I UNDERSTAND, NEEDS YOUR APPROVAL NEXT.
SO WHEN MR. NOLL PUTS OUT THE BID FOR THE, WELL THREE REHAB THAT WE'RE DOING, HE WILL GIVE YOU A BID RESULT.
WOULD THOSE NUMBERS, SO IF IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY AT THAT POINT, THEN YOU REJECT THE BID.
YEAH, WE COMMONLY YOU'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SETTING A SPENDING.
YEAH, WE COMMONLY REVIEW SPENDING HABITS AND, AND REQUESTS, UM, HIM LINE ROAD.
I KNOW EVERYBODY'S HOT ON HIM.
WE, BETHANY AND I WERE ON COUNCIL AND THERE WAS THREE OFFERS I THINK AT ONE POINT FOR THAT, THAT WERE REJECTED UNTIL WE CAME TO RESOLUTION WHERE WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
AND WE ALSO NEGOTIATED WITH THE COUNTY ON THE BACKFILL TO SAVE $700,000.
SO, SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO COME OFF OF THIS CEILING, BUT THIS IS THE NUMBERS THAT OUR PROFESSIONALS AND OUR STAFF CAME UP WITH THAT THEY NEEDED TO MAINTAIN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT WHEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED FOR WHAT IS COMING ALONG, THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS NOT DONE A FINANCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OR STATEMENT ON ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE SPENT IN THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.
AM I CORRECT OR AM I INCORRECT? I ON YOU'RE SPEAKING TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 14.
I CAN TELL YOU WE'VE HAD A MANY CONVERSATIONS ON THE IMPACT OF THE WATER AND SEWER AND AS MR. NOLA STATED, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THE SEWER PLANT HAS THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THE INCOMING HOMES.
I, I MEAN I'VE, I'VE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET TOWN OF MEDFORD.
I MEAN, WE JUST HAD A MAJOR INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAXES AND I DID WANNA EXPRESS CONCERN OVER BONDING SOMETHING.
NOW CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW MUCH RESERVES IS LEFT IN THE MUA? HOW MUCH RESERVES ARE LEFT
[00:40:01]
IN THE MUA FUNDS? UM, I'D HAVE TO PULL UP FOR IT.IT, IT'S NOT AN MUA, IT'S A UTILITY.
HOW MUCH RESERVE'S LEFT IN THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT? UTILITY HAS A LARGER SURPLUS THAN THE TOWN.
UTILITY, UTILITY RESERVE IS MUCH BETTER SUITED THAN THE TOWNSHIPS.
AFTER THIS EXPENDITURE AND THE DRAIN DOWN, HOW MUCH IS GONNA BE LEFT? YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T LEAVE.
THE SURPLUS THAT IS REMAINING ISN'T ALLOCATED TO THIS YET.
IF YOU DON'T USE IT IN THE BUDGET, IN THE BUDGET PLAN, THEN IT REMAINS AN AVAILABLE SURPLUS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU DO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.
SO THIS SURPLUS ISN'T PAYING, IT CAN'T, IT SITS THERE IN RESERVE UNTIL NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS STRUCK.
IS IT TRUE OR NOT TRUE THAT RESERVES THAT ARE IN THE UTILITY BUDGET CAN GET TRANSFERRED INTO THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET IF NEEDED? ONLY THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET? CORRECT.
IS IT TRUE OR NOT TRUE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN? YES.
IT CAN'T HAPPEN RIGHT NOW UNTIL THEY DO THE 2027 BUDGET.
THAT'S I'M ASKING WHAT THE RESERVES IN THE UTILITY FUND IS.
I THINK WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GETTING, I'M ASKING BECAUSE OF THIS BOND ORDINANCE 26 14.
SO IF YOU'RE BONDING DEBT AND THERE'S AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY THERE AND THE MONEY'S SITTING THERE, WHY ISN'T SOME OF THE RESERVES, INSTEAD OF GOING INTO DEBT BEING USED, YOU CANNOT USE RESERVES AFTER A BUDGET IS PASSED AND DEBT IS A STATE LAW.
SO WHY AREN'T, AND LISTEN, I'M ASKING LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS AS A RESIDENT, NOT AS AN ADMINISTRATOR.
SO IF THEY CAN BE USED AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN TIME INSTEAD OF TAKING ON DEBT WITH INTEREST, WHY ISN'T IT BEING HELD OFF AND DONE? IF IT'S NOT IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET AND YOU CAN USE THE RESERVES NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS SIX MONTHS AWAY, WHY ISN'T THAT HAPPENING? WHY ISN'T THAT I'M ASKING.
I'M ASKING WHY WE ARE TAKING ON DEBT WHEN THERE'S RESERVES.
IF PLEASE, YES, MR. BER WILL GIVE YOU THE TECHNICAL ANSWER.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE, THE LAYMAN'S ANSWER.
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT EVEN IF I THINK THE SURPLUS WAS 1.3 THE LAST TIME I SOLD IT, RIGHT? IT WAS, YEAH.
I'M TRYING TO GO THROUGH DOCUMENTS.
IF YOU GOT $1.3 MILLION IN THE BANK, YOU'RE NOT FUNDING 4.8 MILLION BANK.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I ASKED WHAT THE RESERVES WERE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS GREATER THAN 1.3.
NO, THERE WAS A BIG NUMBER IN THERE.
AND FROM WHAT I HEARD AT THE BUDGET MEETING, 65,000 WAS BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL BUDGET WHEN I ASKED.
AND THEN THERE WAS OTHER RESERVES, BUT THE RESERVES WERE BEING DRAWN DOWN.
BUT THEN I READ ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THERE.
SO DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ONLINE,
BUT JUST, JUST JUST TO, JUST TO SPEAK GENERALLY TO THE, TO, TO HOW THIS WORKS.
IF, IF WE NEED $4.8 MILLION POSSIBLE MAX NUMBER TO FUND THE UTILITY, IF WE HAVE 1.3, AND AGAIN, I'M SORRY IF THIS NUMBER'S NOT CORRECT, BUT IF WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY A MILLION DOLLARS IN SURPLUS IN THAT UTILITY, I I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT'S PROPER FOR US TO JUST LOOK AT THAT RESERVE NUMBER AND NOT LOOK TO A BONDING MECHANISM WHEN THESE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT OTHER EXPENDITURES COMING AND YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING.
SO I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS.
IS IT PRUDENT? ARE YOU PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE? IS THERE AFIN BETTER FINANCIAL WAY TO LOOK AT? I'M ASKING A QUESTION.
IT, THESE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS TO ASK.
AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE TIMING, I LOOKED AT THE NUMBER I LOOKED AT, I DID GENERAL FIGURES ON WHAT THE BOND WOULD COST OVER THE LONG RUN ON WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT THE RESERVES WERE, WHAT THE DEFICITS ARE PROJECTED TO BE IN THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET, HOW MUCH THE INCREASES ARE GONNA HAPPEN, THEN PROJECT THAT OVER THE IMPACT OF THE REST OF IT.
IS THIS SMART TIMING? IS THIS SOMETHING NOT THAT YOU SHOULD HESITATE ON? ASK THE QUESTIONS I'M ASKING, GET THE ANSWERS BEFORE VOTING? I BELIEVE THOSE QUESTIONS WERE DETERMINED TO BE YES.
DURING THE BOND PROCESS, UH, BUDGET PROCESS, EXCUSE ME.
WE AS A COUNCIL, WE REVIEWED THE BUDGET.
WE HAD SEVERAL HEARINGS ON IT.
UM, AND, AND WE CAME TO DETERMINATION THAT AT, FOR THIS YEAR, FOR THE 2026 BUDGET, WE FELT COMFORTABLE GIVING AUTHORITY TO THE STAFF TO SPEND MONEY ON THE CAPITAL EXPENSES THAT THEY LISTED BOTH AT THE UTILITY AND ON THE MUNICIPAL SIDE.
[00:45:01]
SURPLUS OF THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, I DON'T HAVE THE AUDITED FINANCIALS.I HAVE AN A FS, WHICH IS THE UNAUDITED FINANCIALS THAT ARE ISSUED FOR 1231 OF 25.
SO THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT IS PUT TOGETHER WHEN THE MUNICIPALITY IS PUTTING TOGETHER ITS BUDGET.
THE MUNICIPALITY BEGAN JANUARY 1ST, 2025 WITH $1.5 MILLION IN OPERATING SURPLUS WITHIN THE UTILITY.
UM, THERE WAS EXCESS OPERATIONS OF 785,988.
SO THAT IS EXCESS IN THE UTILITY FUNDS BUDGET THAT WAS NOT SPENT IN THAT YEAR.
UM, YOU APPROPRIATED IN CASH TO THE BUDGET $1.351 MILLION LEAVING YOU AN ENDING BALANCE OF $999,364 AND 36 CENTS AT THE START OF THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THEN IF I PULL UP THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, SO AGAIN THO THOSE WERE ALL GREAT NUMBERS.
ALL THIS IS JUST TO SAY THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WATER SEALED WATER SEWER UTILITY.
WE CAN'T DO THAT OFF OF JUST THE, THE SURPLUS THAT WE'RE EXPOSED TO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.
WE HAVE TO BOND TO, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP THAT UTILITY.
AND I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE, WHAT HAPPENS AS THIS RIPPLES OUT AND GETS, THERE'S A CA THERE'S THERE'S GONNA BE A CASCADING EFFECT, RIGHT? THAT NOBODY IS PROJECTING.
THERE'S NO FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, THERE'S NOTHING TO GIVE BACK TO THE RESIDENTS TO SAY THIS WAS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
PART OF WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS A FINANCIAL PROJECTION.
SO YOU'RE GOING IN, IT WOULD BE MANDATED THROUGH THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THAT HASN'T BEEN AGREED TO THAT, THAT'S, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S TOTALLY CORRECT, BUT I WILL CHECK IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S TOTALLY CORRECT.
I THINK THAT'S A, THE ORDINANCES 2026 DISTRACT, LET'S STICK WITH THE THE ORDINANCE.
AND THAT'S WHY I AM SPEAKING TO IT.
WE HAVE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT BONDING UP TO 4.87.
I THINK THE TIMING IS NOT GOOD AND I DO THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE THOUGHT ABOUT A LOT MORE.
DO YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING THIS AS A CRITICISM.
IT, IT REALLY ISN'T A CRITICISM WHEN YOU ARE IN THE, IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS AND YOU, YOU LOOK IN IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND THE THE SECOND SET OF EYES COMES IN AND STARTS LOOKING AT NUMBERS.
I'M GONNA SEE IT DIFFERENT THAN YOU'RE GONNA SAY IT.
AND A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAPPENS WITH THE COUNCIL IS STATED AND NOT RESEARCHED.
SO WHEN THE RESEARCH COMES IN, I'VE HAD THINGS TOLD TO ME AND THEN I GO IN AND I START RESEARCHING AND IT'S NOTHING OF WHAT IS STATED.
SO I JUST THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME REAL GOOD PROJECTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS EMERGENT, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
LIKE IF YOU PO POSTPONE THIS FOR SIX MONTHS AND DID A FULL IMPACT, IT'S NOT AN EMERGENT REPAY.
IT'S NOT AN EMERGENT ORDINANCE.
SO ON THE RESOLUTIONS, WE HAVE A CHANGE ORDER FOR WELL NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 20% BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET, WELL NUMBER SIX, WE HAVE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.
AND 'CAUSE THE BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS, WE DIDN'T DO IT.
IT'S OUR LARGEST WELL IN TOWN PUMPS A THOUSAND GALLONS A MINUTE.
AND WE ACTUALLY PULLED THE WELL OUT.
IT WAS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE THOUGHT.
WELL YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANY WATER.
WE FIXED IT AND IT'S OVER WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
AND WE HAVE WELL NUMBER THREE IN THIS ORDINANCE.
AND IF YOU POSTPONE IT, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN.
AND GOD FORBID, WELL NUMBER THREE GOES DOWN, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO FIX IT.
IS THAT $4.8 MILLION? IT'S PART OF THE DEAL.
IT'S PART, YEAH, IT'S PART OF IT.
I THINK, I THINK COLLECTIVELY THOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EMERGENT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT HAVE THAT FOR WHATEVER REASONS OVER THE YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP.
THERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO ON ROADS, WHO I KNOW WILL TELL YOU THEIR ROADS ARE EMERGENT AND NEED TO BE REPAVED.
AND WHETHER WE WE DO THAT TONIGHT OR WHETHER WE WAIT SIX MONTHS DOWN THE LINE, IT'S STILL GONNA BE EMERGENT.
THERE IS GONNA BE A FISCAL IMPACT STUDY THAT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED WHEN THE APPLICANT SUBMIT TO THE PLANNING BOARD.
THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS.
THAT, THAT IS, THOSE IMPACT STUDIES ARE NEEDED.
BUT YES, I MEAN WE ALL KNOW AS A COUNCIL AND WE ALL EXPRESS IT DURING THE BUDGET SESSIONS THAT WE KNOW THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE TOWN THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE INHERITED AND THAT WE NEED TO NOW TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THINGS AND ADDRESSING THINGS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
YOU KNOW, AND IS THERE A PERFECT SOLUTION? UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S, THERE'S NOT.
BUT IT'S FINDING THAT THAT MEDIAN, THAT BALANCE AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
I DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE AN IMPACT.
[00:50:01]
I DO THINK THAT THERE'S PEOPLE HERE THAT UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING.AND I DO THINK THAT THERE'S MORE PRUDENT RESPONSIBILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON KEEPING DOWN THE IMPACT OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE.
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE TAXES AND I THINK IT CAN BE AVOIDED.
SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS GONNA PASS.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT IN MY THOUGHTS.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 14? SEEING NONE.
AND NOW ROLL CALL FOR ADOPTION.
MS. SANMAR? YES, MR. COX? AYE.
ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 14 IS ADOPTED AND MARIAN HOLLOWAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO INTRODUCE FOR SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 15? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 15 AMENDING A SUPPLEMENTING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE TOWNSHIP'S DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS TO INCLUDE AND DESIGNATE DATA CENTERS AS A NON PERMITTED USE IN ALL ZONES WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
OKAY, SO, OH, I'M SORRY, SECOND.
SO AS CLEARLY STATED IN THE ORDINANCE, UM, AND STATED DURING THE FIRST READING THIS OMITS THE USE OF DATA CENTERS IN ALL ZONES, WHICH I BELIEVE THERE ARE NO ZONES CURRENTLY IN WHICH DATA CENTERS ARE PERMITTED ANYWAY.
IT'S NOT A PERMITTED USE IN ANY OF YOUR ZONES.
UM, AS CHIEF DOBY DISCUSSED IN THE LAST, UM, ITEM, IF A WAREHOUSE WERE TO COME, IT'S NOT A PERMITTED USE WITHIN OUR ZONES.
THERE ARE TWO AREAS WHERE I, I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW IF I WOULD CALL THEM WAREHOUSES TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, IN OTHER TOWNS.
BUT, UM, DELL VAL CHEMICAL, WHICH IS OFF OF, UH, OLD MARLTON PARKWAY DEMOLISHED, UH, AND YOU STILL SEE THE PAD SITE THERE.
THAT WAS, UH, A, A SMALL UM, UH, WAREHOUSE.
AND THEN ACROSS FROM BEDFORD LEE'S IS AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.
IF ANY NEW STRUCTURE WERE TO COME BEFORE THE TOWN, IT WOULD NEED TO BE IN, UM, AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT BECAUSE NO ZONES CURRENTLY, UH, IF I'M CORRECT, MR. KNOLL THAT'S CORRECT, UM, ALLOW WHETHER A WAREHOUSE OR MOST OF THE TIME WAREHOUSES ARE FOUND OR DATA CENTERS ARE FOUND WAREHOUSES.
SO THIS IS TAKING AN EXTRA STEP, UM, IN IN THAT PROCESS TO UH, SAY THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT THIS.
SO NOW I WILL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 15.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE? UH, EARL STAHL, UH, 26 FOSTER TOWN ROAD.
UM, I, UH, TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT WITH RESPECT TO TECHNOLOGIES THAT CHANGE AND REC CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS THAT ARE CONFINED, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THAT.
WE JUST HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF THIS TOWN.
LINDSEY, THIS COUNCIL AND I SAT THROUGH THE BUDGET MEETINGS.
BUT IF THERE IS SOME LATITUDE TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR A DATA CENTER THAT COULD PROVIDE TAX REVENUE EQUAL TO $200 MILLION WORTH OF IMPROVEMENT, IT'S ASSESSED AT $2 MILLION TAX RECEIVED TO MEDFORD TOWNSHIPS $2 MILLION.
SO ALLS I'M ASKING IS THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY, HEY, IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSED IN THE FORM THAT IT'S IN, IT DOESN'T PERMIT DATA CENTERS ANYWHERE.
BUT IF YOU ADD SOME CRITERIA THAT PERMITS A DATA CENTER THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS OR ISSUES THAT YOU SO IDENTIFY, RIGHTFULLY SO IN THE ORDINANCE THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT, WHERE IT EMPLOYS 140 PEOPLE A YEAR WHERE THE ASSESSED VALUE OF A DATA CENTER IS ANYWHERE IS BETWEEN TWO TO 500 MILLION.
[00:55:03]
THAT'S DIRECT REVENUE.THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PROPERTIES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ROUTE 70.
YOU CAN PUT CONDITIONS CAN'T BE IN THE PINE LANDS, HAS TO BE NEAR DISTRIBUTION CIRCUITS HAS TO BE 80 ACRES IN SIZE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE JUST GOING DOWN A PATH THAT YOU'RE GONNA LOSE.
THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ASSET CAN'T BE WITHIN FIVE HOMES.
SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT ANY NEIGHBORS.
ARE YOU OPEN TO A BACK AND FORTH? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, SO I I DEFINITELY I HEAR YOU THAT I, THE CONSTRAINTS OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE KIND OF ALL LIMITING AT THIS POINT.
AND IF I MAY, UM, FROM COUNSEL, AS MR. UMBA STATED, IF IN THE FUTURE THE COUNCIL FELT THE NEED TO ALLOW A DATA CENTER WITH UNDER ANY RE UNDER ANY CRITERIA THAT THEY FELT NECESSARY, THAT COULD BE DONE IN A REDEVELOPMENT ZONE.
OR THE ORDINANCE ITSELF COULD BE AMENDED.
SO THIS, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT AS I GUESS WITH ANY ORDINANCE COULD BE AMENDED, RIGHT? SURE.
UM, IT WOULD NEED TO BE, THE ORDINANCE WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED FIRST BECAUSE THE REDEVELOPMENT ENTITY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN SOMETHING THAT VIOLATED, UH, AN EXISTING ORDINANCE.
UM, SO IF YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, I'M SORRY.
SO IF THIS ORDINANCE GOES INTO, UM, EFFECT, I'LL TAKE IT IN TWO PARTS.
A WAREHOUSE COULD COME TO THIS TOWN, NOT A DATA CENTER.
A WAREHOUSE COULD COME TO THIS TOWN AND IT STILL HAS THE OPTION TO SEEK AN AREA NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN IF, IF THAT AREA IS GRANTED THROUGH, UH, A PROCESS WITH THE TOWN AND DCA APPROVING IT, THE REDEVELOPMENT ENTITY COULD WORK OUT A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW A WAREHOUSE IF THIS ORDINANCE UNDER OUR CURRENT RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ZONE THAT ALLOWS FOR A WAREHOUSE TO BE BUILT.
IF THIS ORDINANCE GOES INTO EFFECT, THE WAREHOUSE CAN BE BUILT, BUT THE DATA CENTER CANNOT GO IN IT UNLESS YOU REPEAL OR MODIFY THIS ORDINANCE AT A LATER DATE THAT THEN WOULD ALLOW FOR SOME TYPE OF CRITERIA TO GO IN.
SO LET'S JUST SAY BUILDER A COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, I WANNA BUILD A 500,000 SQUARE FOOT, UH, WAREHOUSE.
THEY NEED TO FIND AN AREA YOU NEED TO REDEVELOPMENT THAT FITS THE CRITERIA, GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS, GETS AN AGREEMENT THROUGH YOU AS THE REDEVELOPMENT ENTITY, AND THEN, UH, HAS ALL OF ITS APPROVALS AND THEN CAN BUILD.
THEY CAN'T PUT A DATA CENTER IN IT.
IF THIS ORDINANCE IS IN PLACE, UM, I THINK IF YOU REMOVE THE DATA CENTER, THEN IT CAN GO, GO IN.
THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COME TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, YOU'RE THE REDEVELOPMENT ENTITY.
CAN YOU ALLOW ME TO DO THE DATA CENTER? THEY WOULDN'T WITH THIS ORDINANCE IN PLACE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS WHEN A USE IS NOT BECAUSE IT WILL BE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED AS OPPOSED TO JUST NOT PERMITTED.
AND, AND MR. STO, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS WILL EVOLVE, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND THERE MAY BE A TIME IN THE FUTURE THAT THE TERM DATA CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT IS MORE AMENABLE TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND THE BODY THAT GOVERNS THE, SO, UM, AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING, I MEAN, IT'S HARDER TO GO BACKWARDS THAN IT IS TO JUST SAY, HEY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE VOTE I CAST ON THIS ORDINANCE TONIGHT.
UM, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT TODAY I FEEL THAT WAY AND THAT THERE'S MECHANISMS IN THE FUTURE IF THINGS DO CHANGE, THAT A PROCESS WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED.
WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO TO, TO REMEDY THAT.
CHRIS, DID YOU SAY THERE'S ALSO A PRESENT MECHANISM YOU CAN APPLY FOR A USE VARIANCE AND IF ALL THE CRITERIA THAT MR. STAHL THINKS ARE APPROPRIATE AND PRESENTS IT TO THE ZONING BOARD AND THEY THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, IT GETS APPROVED.
IF IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, THEY DON'T APPROVE IT.
BUT IT'S A LOT HARDER WHEN THERE'S AN ORDINANCE THAN THE ATTORNEY WOULD.
I'M SURE CHRIS WOULD SAY TO GET THAT USE VARIANCE UNDER A D NOT A D VARIANCE UNDER, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A DAD VARIANCE.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT THOUGH.
I JUST WANT TO JUST, THESE ARE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.
TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD IN A DIRECTION THAT WE CAN'T COME BACK FROM UNTIL WE KNOW FULL WELL WHAT THE IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS WILL BE.
ONLY BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR MONEY.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR RADIO BOOKS.
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOUR WARREN.
AND I'VE BEEN TO 17 COUNCIL MEETINGS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, AND I APOLOGIZE IN OUR MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO, I NOT HEARD, I DID NOT HEAR ONE TIME IN ANY ONE OF THOSE 17 COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT THERE WAS ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A DATA CENTER.
NOW I MISSED LAST COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE FIRST READING.
BUT ALLS I'M SAYING IS, I'M SORRY
[01:00:01]
ABOUT THAT.YEAH, I DIDN'T MEAN IT DON'T THAT WAY.
WHEN I SAW YOU IN THAT MEETING, IT WASN'T A JOKE.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE, WE'RE MAYBE POTENTIALLY LOSING SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE IN A VERY SPECIFIC SPOT THAT WON'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT, BUT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE WANNA FIX THAT IF THAT EVER HAPPENS.
OR WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT PROPERTY I'M TALKING ABOUT? IT'S NOT AGRICULTURAL LAND.
I PAID THE ROLLBACK TAXES ON IT.
I HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL SOLAR FARM ON IT SOMEDAY.
THAT'S BRINGING IN 15 MEGAWATTS OF POWER OR PUTTING IT OUT ONTO THE GRID COULD BE A PERFECT LOCATION FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO ANYBODY AND A LOT OF REVENUE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN.
IF THERE'S NO IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS AND THERE'S ONLY A FINANCIAL BENEFIT, THAT'S GOOD.
I BELIEVE WE'RE, I WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT THAT AT THAT TIME.
BUT THIS IS, WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
UM, YEAH, I GUESS JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT HE JUST SAID, JUST TO FOR THE RECORD, I'M A PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST SOFTWARE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD AND I MANAGE A TEAM THAT USES AI DATA CENTERS EVERY DAY.
MY COMPANY HAS A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS EARMARKED FOR DATA CENTERS.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY DATA CENTERS.
I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS ON THE ORDINANCE.
AND AS SOMEONE WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, UM, I THINK NO DATA CENTERS.
UM, I ACTUALLY WENT DOWN THE VIOLIN BEFORE I MADE ANY STATEMENTS AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, THE GOVERNOR'S GOING, IT SEEMS LIKE SHE MIGHT BE TAKING ONLY TIME.
UM, SEEMS LIKE SHE MIGHT BE TAKING A HARD STAND.
THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT IS ALSO AGREEING WITH YOU.
UM, THE IMPACT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IS EVOLVING.
THEY HAVEN'T, DON'T HAVE AN END USE.
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DISMANTLE THEM.
ONCE THEY START SHRINKING IN SIZE, BETTER TECHNOLOGY OR WHATEVER, THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF IT'S HAZARDOUS WASTE, IF THEY CAN.
IF IT'S A NUCLEAR PLANT THAT GETS DUMPED ON THE TOWN, THERE IS NO END AND THERE'S NO ANSWERS.
SO THIS IS PRUDENT UNTIL THERE'S ANSWERS.
AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, YOU ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ANSWERS.
RIGHT? SO SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY AND REVENUE.
THERE ARE OTHER COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES THAT CAN BRING IN RATEABLES.
SO I'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO SIT ON A COMMITTEE TO BRING IN RATEABLES DATA CENTERS IS ONE OF 'EM.
SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND I HAVE SAID THAT IN PUBLIC, BY THE WAY.
ANYONE ELSE TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 15 SEEING NONE.
AND NOW THE ROLL CALL FOR THIS OPTION TO THE AFFIRMATIVE IS STATING THAT WE DO NOT WANT DATA CENTERS.
OKAY, SO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 15 HAS PASSED AND I SHOULD HAVE STATED MR. MR. STO, WE DON'T WANT DATA CENTERS RIGHT NOW.
SO, ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH TWO.
I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADAPT ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2026 DASH TWO, ESTABLISHING CALENDAR YEAR 2026, SALARY AND WAGE RANGES FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS ORDINANCE, UM, UPDATES AND ADJUST WAGE AMOUNTS PER, UM, EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT OR SO UNDER YOUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
THE MANAGER, UM, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SET SALARIES WITHIN A RANGE SET BY ORDINANCE.
UM, THE ONLY SALARY THAT CAN'T BE SET IS THE MANAGERS, UH, THAT IS SET BY COUNSEL.
UM, SO YOU ARE SETTING A RANGE THAT YOU ARE AUTHORIZED SIMILAR TO ALL THE OTHER ACTIONS THAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE SETTING A RANGE THAT THE MANAGER NEEDS TO STAY WITHIN, UM, SO LONG AS IT'S WITHIN THE BUDGET.
UM, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED, UH, BY THE COUNCIL.
[01:05:01]
GONE THROUGH SEVERAL OTHER ITERATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU ASKED ME TO KIND OF REVIEW AND GIVE YOU KIND OF A, AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT WAS BEING ASKED OF YOU PRIOR TO ME GETTING HERE.
AND THIS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HAS CHANGED AND COME DOWN, UM, TO WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY COUNSEL HAS REVIEWED THIS AD NAUSEUM.
IT'S BEEN IN THE BINDER
SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD ASK YOU TO DEFER TO THERE, BUT AT THIS POINT WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH TWO.
ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE? OKAY.
MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND NOW MOTION TO ADOPT MS. SANTO.
ORDINANCE 2026 DASH TWO IS APPROVED.
YOU KNOW, MY PHILOSOPHY, I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN MAKING SURE THAT INFORMATION GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND I AM, IT WAS NOT DISCOUNTING, UM, MS. HOLLOWAY'S ITEMS TO US.
LIKE, UH, WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, LINDSAY DID A, A PHENOMENAL JOB PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR BUDGET, PRESENTED THESE THINGS TO HER, SO WAS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FROM HER AND BACK AND FORTH.
I CAN HAVE A FURTHER PRESENTATION ON LONG-TERM DEBT SERVICE, THINGS LIKE THAT TO, TO EVERYBODY.
BUT I, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, LET'S TAKE WATER AND SEWER, WATER AND SEWER DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS LAST YEAR VERSUS THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR WAS 2.9 MILLION THIS YEAR, 2.7 MILLION.
THAT'S A REDUCTION OF 216,000.
TYPICALLY WHEN THE CFO SITS DOWN WITH THE MANAGER AND YOU GO THROUGH, YOU LOOK AT THE EBB AND FLOW OF WHERE THE DEBT SERVICE IS, THE STATE DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO HAVE OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEBT SERVICE.
UM, THE, UH, THERE ARE VARYING CRITERIA.
YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN 25 OF YOUR 25% OF YOUR BUDGET CAN'T BE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.
UM, 3.5% OF YOUR TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE CANNOT EXCEED THAT NUMBER IN DEBT SERVICE.
SO THOSE ARE THE STATE PARAMETERS.
SO THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN OVERALL DEBT SERVICE AND THAT'S USUALLY WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR FINANCE INDIVIDUALS THAT PUT IN.
THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN, YOU CAN PUT SLOT, UH, ADDITIONAL DEBT SERVICE NUMBERS.
I KNOW MR. COX DOES THAT A LOT WHEN HE WAS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EBB AND FLOW THAT.
CURRENT FUND DECREASED A TOTAL OF $247,215.
SO DEBT SERVICE WENT DOWN BY THAT AMOUNT.
UM, SO AS YOU SLOT IN DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS AND, AND RATIOS, YOU LOOK AT THAT EBB AND FLOW AT A FUTURE MEETING, I CAN GET THE FULL, UM, DEBT SERVICE.
I, I DON'T HAVE THAT AT MY FINGERTIPS HERE.
UM, THIS IS A SOUTHAMPTON COMPUTER, SO I'M ONLY GIVEN WHAT IS PROVIDED TO ME SO I CAN GIVE THAT ANALYSIS SO THAT MAYBE THE PUBLIC AND THIS COUNCIL HAS IT.
I KNOW IT WAS ALREADY DONE IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT APPENDIX TO A, A BUDGET PROCESS NOW THAT WE'RE COMING OUT OF IT.
WHAT, WHAT DOES THE BONDING IMPACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT STATES THAT WE SHOULD START THE BUDGETING PROCESS 4 27 IN NOVEMBER.
SO AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS ARE USUALLY WHAT WE CALL THE DEAD MONTHS IN, IN THIS, UM, INDUSTRY WHERE YOU GET PROJECTS DONE WITH YOUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, UM, AND YOU START LOOKING AHEAD, UM, WE CAN START PROVIDING THAT, UH, ITEM FOR YOU.
AND AS I STATED TO YOU, THE HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL START GETTING A BUDGET BINDER THAT EXPLAINS EACH LEVEL SO YOU HAVE IT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
'CAUSE AS YOU SAW BETWEEN THE BACK AND FORTH, TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING AT ONCE TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS.
DOES THAT FEEL LIKE IN AUGUST POSSIBLE OR SEPTEMBER OR I CAN HAVE THAT, UH, PRESENTATION PUT TOGETHER WITH, UH, WITH LINDSAY TO LOOK AT OVERALL DEBT SERVICE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT AND SEE HOW WE'RE THINGS ARE BEING PAID OFF COMING BACK ON.
SO YOU, I GUESS WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT TIMING OF THAT AS WE GET, UM, MAYBE TO END OF JULY.
DON'T, I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA OVER YEAH, LINDSAY SAID OVER PROMISE A NUMBER OF ITEMS WHY WE'RE SITTING HERE.
I TRIED TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER YEAH.
REAL QUICK SO I COULD GIVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF AN ANSWER.
UM, THERE IS THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO THIS.
YOU DO LOOK AT YOUR OVERALL DEBT SERVICE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, CURRENT DEBT SERVICE AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE TO TRY AND SEE HOW THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, DEBT SERVICE OUTSIDE THE CAP MM-HMM
SO IT, THERE'S, THERE IS A, UH, YOU KNOW, A WAY THAT YOU CAN KIND OF LOOK AND SEE THE PROJECTION.
SO I, I CAN HAVE THAT PUT TOGETHER DEPENDING ON, DEPENDING ON TIMING, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE INCLUDE THAT AND MAYBE HAVE A SIMULTANEOUS PRESENTATION FROM THE AUDITORS FOR THE AUDIT PRESENTATION.
SO THE AUDIT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, UM, AT THE BUILDING.
SO, UM, LET ME SEE HOW THEY COME TOGETHER.
LINDSAY HAS ALREADY PUT IN THE REQUEST THAT THIS COUNCIL IS ASKED TO HAVE THE AUDITORS COME TO THE ACTUAL MEETING AND DO A PRESENTATION, UM, TO GO OVER THE 2025 AUDIT.
[01:10:01]
THAT IN TO IT.I BELIEVE AUGUST IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE AUGUST 30TH.
IT USED TO BE, SORRY, JULY ONE.
I, I'M USED TO JULY ONE AT THIS POINT, BUT, SO, OR JUNE 30TH.
UH, SO AUGUST 30TH IS THE DEADLINE TO GET OUR AUDIT TO THEM.
SO LET ME SEE TIMING WISE AND THEN WE'LL TRY AND SLOT IT IN.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE AUGUST 11TH MEETING.
WE'RE MOVING FROM NATIONAL NIGHT OUT SO I, MAYBE I CAN HAVE IT DONE FOR ALL THE SELECT THANK.
[XII. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS]
AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.RESOLUTION 1 21 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE TAX COLLECTOR TO DELAY IMPOSING THE NEW UTILITY RATE PURSUANT TO THE FEE ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 11 RESOLUTION 2120, I'M SORRY.
1 22 20 26 EXTENDING THE GRACE PERIOD FOR PAYMENT OF THE 2026 THIRD QUARTER PROPERTY TAXES.
RESOLUTION 1 23 20 26 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE MEPP TOWNSHIP FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EMS DEPARTMENT RESOLUTION 1 24 20 26 AUTHORIZING CANCELLATION OF 2026.
PROPERTY TAXES ON PROPERTIES OWNED BY QUALIFIED TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS RESOLUTION 1 25 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER TO EXECUTE A DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE AND NOTE FOR THE PREMISES KNOWN AS 37.
BOULEVARD BLOCK 4 0 4 25 LOT 29.
RESOLUTION 1 26 20 26 APPROVING THE 2025 LOS CERTIFICATION LIST FOR QUALIFICATION OF METFORD TOWNSHIP FIRE EMS VOLUNTEER HOURS RESOLUTION 1 27 20 26 AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE HEMLINE ROAD COUNTY ROUTE 6 23 PAVING AND ALTERNATE NUMBER ONE PARKING SPACE STRIPING ON MAIN STREET AND CHARLES STREET.
PROJECT RESOLUTION 1 28 20 26 AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO MODIFY AND INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR THE WELL.
NUMBER SIX, REHABILITATION AWARD AWARDED, I'M SORRY, REHABILITATION PROJECT AWARDED TO A C SCHULTZ INC.
6 6 4 SOUTH EVERGREEN AVENUE, WOODBURY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY OH 8 0 9 7.
RESOLUTION 1 29 20 26 AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL OF SLUDGE FROM METFORD TOWNSHIP WATER AND WASTEWATER MA UH, UTILITY RESOLUTION 1 30 20 26 APPOINTING APPOINTMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT RESOLUTION 1 31 20 26 APPOINTING PHOENIX ADVISORS AS FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS AND RESOLUTION 1 32 20 26 APPROVING RENEWAL OF LIQUOR LICENSES FOR 2026 DASH 2027.
SO THERE'S A FEW, THERE'S MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CONSENT AND AGENDA RESOLUTIONS.
UH, MR. NOEL, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, I'M SORRY FOR BRINGING THE SPOT RESOLUTION 1 27 20 26.
CONTRACT HIM LINE, UH, UH, TIMLINE ROAD.
UM, UH, I REPORTED UNDER THE, UH, MANAGER'S, UH, UH, REPORT LAST, UH, LAST MEETING ABOUT, UH, HEMLINE ROAD.
SO THIS, UH, THE LOW BID WAS FROM AAC, UH, WAS BELOW WHAT WE HAD, UH, ESTIMATED AND WE'RE COORDINATING WITH SOUTH JERSEY GAS.
UH, I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE THEY'RE GOING TO DO A JACK AND BOAR UNDERNEATH THE SCREEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT NOW.
SO THAT ACTUALLY SAVES SOME TIME.
THEY'RE GONNA DO SOME OUT ON, UH, MIL FROM THE BRIDGE ON HEMAL LINE TO HARTFORD ROAD AND A LITTLE BIT DOWN, UH, TAUNTON TOWARDS CHRISTOPHER MILLS, CHRISTOPHER'S MILL ROAD AND A LITTLE BIT ON STOKES AND DOWN MILL STREET.
BUT UM, I BELIEVE THE SAME CONTRACTOR IS LIKELY GONNA GET THAT WORK FROM SOUTH JERSEY GAS AS WE HAVE.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COORDINATE THAT.
WE ALREADY HAD A MEETING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND UH, THE MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT COORDINATING ALL THESE EFFORTS.
SO EVERYTHING IS DONE WELL IN TIME BEFORE SCHOOL OPENS UP.
AND IT ALSO ORDERS ALSO INCLUDES THE, ALSO INCLUDES THE STRIPING FOR MAIN STREET FOR THE PARKING SPACES.
AND THAT WAS THE PROJECT THAT WAS INITIATED BY THE MAIN STREET SUBCOMMITTEE TO UM, NOTATE UNIQUE PARKING SPACES ALONG MAIN STREET AND TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS OR ACCESS POINTS.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY ONCE THE COUNTY DOES ITS PAVING.
SO THIS WILL SET THE STANDARD TO THEN FOLLOW ONCE THE COUNTY DOES ITS REAVING.
YEAH, THE COUNTY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE WHATEVER WAS THERE.
SO ONCE WE PUT IT IN, THEY'LL REPLACE IT.
THE INTENT IS TO MAKE THE PARKING MORE EFFICIENT AND THE COUNTY
[01:15:01]
REPAVING WHILE NOT CURRENTLY ON ITS ROSTER, IS ON A LIST TO BE DONE AT SOME POINT.I WOULD SAY PROBABLY TWO TO TWO YEARS.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA STRIPE IT WHEN THEY COME BACK AND MILL AND PAVE THE ENTIRE THING, THEY'LL PUT ALL THAT BACK.
AND I THOUGHT WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD PRICE ON THAT.
UM, SO AND THEN JUST SPEAK TO THE COORDINATION OF THAT.
SO, SO, UH, SOUTH JERSEY GAS WILL LIKELY START, UH, RIGHT AFTER 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, JULY 6TH.
UH, I BELIEVE THEY'LL HAVE THEIR WORK IN OUR AREA.
OUR AREA MEANING WHAT'S GONNA AFFECT HIM LINE ROAD DONE BY WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO.
THEY MIGHT BE STILL GOING DOWN MILL STREET, BUT THAT'S NOT AS CRITICAL AS GETTING IT DONE AT ON HEMAL LINE.
SO WE CAN PAVE HEMAL LINE BEFORE SCHOOL OPENS.
THEY'VE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WILL PAVE MILL STREET AS WELL 'CAUSE WE RECENTLY PAVED THAT.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO PAVE THAT AGAIN.
UH, WHETHER THAT'S, THAT'LL PROBABLY DONE AT SOME BREAK WHEN THE SCHOOL WON'T BREAK, WILL BE AT NOVEMBER OR WHENEVER.
'CAUSE THEY WANT TO HAVE TIME FOR THE TRENCH TO SETTLE AND THERE'S A SMALL PORTION ON STOKES ROAD, WHICH INVOLVES THE COUNTY.
THAT'S GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE SOUTH JERSEY GAS AS WELL.
AND THEN THE MAIN STREET STRIPING WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE, THAT PROJECT IS COMPLETED.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A PRECON MEETING NEXT WEEK AND WE'LL SEE WHEN HE WANT TO DO THE MAIN STREET STRIPING.
I'D LIKE TO DO THAT IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S NOT AS BUSY AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF WE CAN DO IT.
ONE, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE CHIEF ABOUT IT YET, BUT I'M ANTICIPATING DOING ONE SIDE ONE DAY AND THE OTHER SIDE ANOTHER DAY.
SO NO PARKING ON ONE SIDE STRIPE THAT COME BACK THE NEXT DAY.
UM, THE PROFESSIONALS MAYOR THAT YOU'RE APPOINTING, UH, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN UH, PHOENIX, UM, THOSE ITEMS WILL END JANUARY 31ST SO THAT IT WILL NOW LINE UP WITH ALL OF YOUR OTHER PROFESSIONALS.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MAINTAIN THESE DATES FOR PROFESSIONALS.
THIS IS A SHORT CONTRACT FOR THEM FROM JULY ONE TO, UH, JANUARY 31ST AND THEN THIS WILL BE PART OF YOUR ANNUAL, UM, PROFESSIONALS, UH, UH, ADVERTISEMENT THAT YOU DO FOR THE SECOND MEETING OF THE YEAR FOR REORG.
UM, AND THEN JUST TO POINT OUT THE GRACE PERIOD FOR YOUR TAX PAYMENTS, THIS IS DONE, UH, TYPICALLY BECAUSE, UH, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE STATE BUDGET WILL BE ON TIME, BUT GETTING A RIGHT STRUCK THROUGH THE COUNTY TAX BOARD TO THEN GET THE BILLS DONE IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE AUGUST 1ST PAYMENT IS, IS LIKELY IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO IT WILL EXTEND ONCE WE GET IT IN, I BELIEVE IT'S 45 DAYS AFTER MAILING.
SO ONCE IT'S MAILED, WE'LL SET THE DATE, WE'LL PUT IT OUT TO THE RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY KNOW.
SO THE AUGUST 1ST PAYMENT IS, IS NOT GONNA BE, UM, UH, DUE AT AUGUST 1ST WITH THE GRACE PERIOD TILL AUGUST 10TH.
IT WILL BE A DATE ONCE WE HAVE THE BILLS STRUCK AND SENT OUT AND ADVERTISED TO EVERYONE.
AND THEN, UM, I KNOW JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, THE RESOLUTION 1 21, UM, THE DELAY IN NEW UTILITY, THE SEWER RATES.
YEAH, THE SEWER RATES TO, UM, IT'S AS THE ORDINANCE, UH, STATES, IT'S, IT'S PUSHING TO HAVE THE FOURTH QUARTER RATES IMPOSED.
UM, AND I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE IT'S IN NOVEMBER ONE, IT WAS, IS NOW MOVING, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION DELAY TO IMPOSE THE NEW RATES BEGINNING NOVEMBER ONE INSTEAD OF OCTOBER 15TH, UM, FOR THOSE SEWER ACCOUNTS.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTIONS? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, ROLL CALL FOR DOC.
GET IT RIGHT OR DO WE NEED QUESTION TO APPROVE, UH, OFTEN SAYING AGENDA THAT RESOLUTIONS AS PRESENTED.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE WILL MOVE TO EXECUTIVE
[XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SESSION RESOLUTION EES OH 6 2 3 20 26 CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND MATTERS RELATED TO ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.WE WILL NOT GO TO EXECUTIVE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE? ME? YES.
I WOULD THINK IT'S PROBABLY AT LEAST AN HOUR.
UM, I'M RECONVENING THE OPEN PORTION OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.
WE DISCUSSED THE TWO ITEMS ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION AGENDA AND NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN AT THIS TIME.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION OF ADJOURN.